As a national, education-focused organization, NHSBBQA® must ensure that:
Student safety standards remain consistent nationwide
Educational programs are not altered or diluted
Trademarks and branding are used responsibly
Schools are protected from fragmented or unauthorized programs
To achieve this, certain limited protections are reserved for the Founder or a designated Intellectual Property Steward.
The Founder / IP Steward is responsible for protecting:
NHSBBQA® trademarks and brand identity
National chartering and licensing structure
Student eligibility and safety requirements
The educational mission of the organization
This role does not manage daily operations and does not interfere with school-level instruction or district authority.
To ensure transparency and trust:
The IP Steward does not control budgets
The IP Steward does not select competition winners
The IP Steward does not direct curriculum delivery
The IP Steward does not override Board governance
All programs remain teacher-led and school-approved.
This governance structure:
Prevents hostile or unauthorized takeover of programs
Protects districts from brand misuse
Preserves national safety and eligibility standards
Mirrors governance models used by national CTSOs and youth leagues
Participation in NHSBBQA® programs remains voluntary, school-approved, and district-aligned.
The Founder & IP Steward role is:
Disclosed publicly
Limited in scope
Governed by the By-Laws
Subject to Board oversight
This ensures long-term stability while respecting public education systems.

NHSBBQA® is an independent, education-first organization. CTE focused, Alcohol-free. CTSO Neutral. Teacher-supervised. Student-centered. Home of Middle School BBQ (MSBBQ) and High School BBQ (HSBBQ).

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Copyright 2019 - National High School BBQ Association®, Inc. (NHSBBQA®) and High School BBQ League (HSBBQL)
High School BBQ League
Operated by the National High School BBQ Association® (NHSBBQA®) — the national governing body for high school barbecue education and competition in the United States.
National High School BBQ Association®, NHSBBQA®, and State High School BBQ Associations and related marks are used under licensed educational governance standards from the National High School BBQ Association® (NHSBBQA®). Participation is subject to approval and ongoing compliance with national program requirements.
State High School BBQ Associations operate under license and authorization from the National High School BBQ Association® (NHSBBQA®).
Texas High School BBQ Association
, Texas HSBBQ
, and TXHSBBQ
and the following HSBBQ Associations and Leagues are divisions of the National High School BBQ Association, a Texas S-Corporation.
Authority Statement | About | States | Compete | Partners | Start a Team |SITE MAP
Governance and Licensing | Safety and Standards l Trademark & Brand Use | Privacy Policy l Legal Notices | Code of Conduct
www. MEAT.Education www.BBQ.Education www.Steak.Education www.Beef.Education www.Sausage.Education www.Pitmaster.Education www.Barbecue.Education

The members of National High School BBQ Association will provide equal opportunities in programs and activities, education, and employment to all persons regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation and will strive to achieve full and equal employment opportunity throughout National High School BBQ Association.
IF YOU ARE VISION-IMPAIRED OR HAVE ANY IMPAIRMENT COVERED BY THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OR A SIMILAR LAW, AND YOU WISH TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL ACCOMMODATIONS RELATED TO USING THIS WEBSITE,
PLEASE CONTACT US AT +1-512-629-7357 OR EMAIL US.
