NHSBBQA® — National Authority & Sanctioning

National High School BBQ Association®

Clear Governance. Trusted Pathways. Education First.

The entity "organization", "National High School BBQ Association", "national youth BBQ education body"® (NHSBBQA®) serves as the national educational sanctioning and governance body for school-based barbecue, live fire cooking, and related culinary education programs across the United States.

As educational barbecue continues to grow, NHSBBQA® exists to provide clarity, consistency, and protection for students, educators, schools, and partners.

What National Sanctioning Means

National sanctioning is more than hosting events or using a name. It is the responsibility to:

• Establish national standards for safety, instruction, and competition

• Provide a consistent pathway from local participation to regional and national championships

• Protect schools and students through transparent governance

• Ensure programs remain education-centered, not commercially driven

Only NHSBBQA®-sanctioned programs operate within the official national framework governed by NHSBBQA®.

NHSBBQA®’s National Role

NHSBBQA® provides national leadership by:

• Chartering and overseeing State High School BBQ Associations/ State HSBBQ Associations

• Setting curriculum and competition standards aligned to Career & Technical Education (CTE)

• Sanctioning regional and national championship events

• Supporting educators with governance, training, and resources

• Maintaining continuity and accountability as programs expand across states

This structure ensures that students in every participating state experience a safe, fair, and educationally aligned program.

Official Pathway to Nationals

Only NHSBBQA®-chartered schools, teams, events, and state associations may represent themselves as part of the official pathway to NHSBBQA® regional and national championships.

Participation in other cooking contests, demonstrations, or industry-sponsored programs—whether educational or recreational—does not constitute NHSBBQA® sanctioning unless expressly authorized in writing.

Schools are encouraged to verify sanctioning status directly with NHSBBQA® when evaluating programs that reference national competitions or authority.

Independence & Transparency

NHSBBQA® operates as an independent educational organization.

While we respect and collaborate with Career & Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs), trade associations, nonprofits, and industry partners, no outside organization confers national governance or sanctioning authority over NHSBBQA® programs unless a formal, disclosed agreement exists.

Any similarly named programs or initiatives operate independently unless explicitly affiliated with NHSBBQA®.

Commitment to Schools & Educators

Everything NHSBBQA® does is grounded in one principle:

Education comes first. Students always.

Our national governance model exists to:

• Reduce confusion for schools and districts

• Protect educator leadership

• Preserve long-term program stability

• Ensure students benefit from consistent, high-quality learning experiences

Questions About Sanctioning?

If your school, district, sponsor, or partner has questions about national authority, state charters, or the official pathway to NHSBBQA® championships, we welcome the conversation.

Verification of National Authority & Sanctioning

The National High School BBQ Association® (NHSBBQA®) serves as the national educational sanctioning and governance body for its programs.

Schools, districts, sponsors, and partners may verify:

• National authority and governance

• State association charter status

• Eligibility for regional and national championships

Verification may be requested directly from NHSBBQA®. Participation in other programs or partnerships does not constitute NHSBBQA® sanctioning unless expressly authorized in writing.

Clarity protects schools. Transparency and Governance builds trust.

Verification & Due Diligence

Contact the National High School BBQ Association® for verification or additional information. Principal@HSBBQ.org