WHY WE ARE DIFFERENT? | National High School BBQ Association®

Why NHSBBQA® Is Different

Education Comes First. Always. Founded by educators in the classroom

The National High School BBQ Association (NHSBBQA®) is not a rodeo, food festival, or adult barbecue sanctioning body with students added in.

We are a school-aligned educational organization that uses barbecue and live-fire cooking as a Career & Technical Education (CTE) learning platform.

Every NHSBBQA® event is designed to:

• Support student learning outcomes

• Align with school district policies

• Prioritize student safety and supervision

• Reinforce character, leadership, and employability skills

Competition exists to support learning, not replace it.

Alcohol-Free. Student-Centered. School-Approved. Faith friendly

All NHSBBQA® student events are conducted in alcohol-free environments.

Unlike many adult competitions and festivals:

• No beer, liquor, or alcohol sponsors

• No public tastings involving student competition areas

• No overnight cooking or unsupervised stays

• No RVs or sleeping units used for student lodging

These standards exist to ensure NHSBBQA® events meet the expectations of parents, principals, superintendents, and district legal counsel.

Teacher-Supervised by Design

Every NHSBBQA® team competes under the supervision of a certified teacher or school-approved adult advisor.

This structure mirrors:

• UIL activities

• CTSO competitions

• Approved school field experiences

Parents, volunteers, and sponsors play a supporting role—but educational supervision always remains with school-approved adults.

Learning-First Competition Model

NHSBBQA® competitions are built around:

• Food safety and fire safety

• Technique and process

• Teamwork and professionalism

• Reflection and continuous improvement

Winning is celebrated—but never at the expense of learning, safety, or character.

School & District Assurance

Governance l Register l State HSBBQ

Student Safety Standards l CTSO-Neutral Statement l Terms & Policies

About Us

NHSBBQA® is an independent, education-first organization.
Alcohol-free. Teacher-supervised. Student-centered.