Donation: High School BBQ Competition Smokers

On October 15, 2025, Barbells & Beef was proud to make its first donation: four brand-new Oklahoma Joe grills and smokers donated to the FFA chapter at Lyndon B. Johnson High School in Laredo, Texas, to support their fledgling BBQ competition teams!

Participation in the FFA chapter gives the students many opportunities to engage in projects related to agriculture and livestock, from growing small gardens to shearing sheep, raising poultry, welding, and repairing/maintaining small engines. These opportunities not only grow knowledge and skills which will benefit them in whatever career path they choose, but they connect the students to many of the processes involved in small-scale farming and ranching and give a more complete picture of where our food comes from.

These smokers and grills will allow the FFA chapter to field a second team at local high school BBQ competitions, giving more students the opportunity to participate in an activity which prepares them for project management and working in groups, and adds to their knowledge of raising animals for human consumption. The fact that delicious smoked brisket and ribs are common results is an added bonus.

I toured the class and sat down with the FFA chapter’s director Adalberto Nava to ask more about what they’ve got going on:

Tell us a little about yourself and what you have going on.

My name is Adalberto G. Nava, affectionately known as “Buddy” to my friends and family, and Mr. Nava to my students and their parents. I teach Agriculture Science at Lyndon B Johnson High School in Laredo, Texas. I am also the national FFA organization advisor for the school’s chapter. We chartered the chapter seven years ago, and we were the last high school in Laredo to receive an FFA charter.

I was excited about the opportunity because agriculture has played a significant role in my life, and through it, you have numerous opportunities to prepare yourself for career success.

What kind of careers might those be?

The skills can prepare you for a career in any industry, although I would love for my members to consider careers in agriculture. The great thing about FFA programs is that they expose you to different subjects and curricula to help students discover for themselves what they’re passionate about.

What sorts of students are drawn to your class? What are they looking for?

We have a wide variety. Most of our students are considered “at risk”, and that is a label placed on the students based on whether they come from single-income households, whether their parents or guardians earn less than the national average, etc. They are seeking a place where they feel accepted and an environment where they can learn about new opportunities and have fun while doing it.

What sorts of projects do you students do?

We do a wide variety of projects based on what the students’ interests are. We’ve built small gardens, done several welding projects ranging from simple to complex, and done a few woodworking projects. Those are the hands-on projects, but we also have students participate in competitions giving presentations on topics they’re interested in, to help them become better public speakers and deepen their knowledge of the subject. For example, we had a couple of students give presentations on small engines; how they operate, how to perform preventative maintenance, etc.

How will these grills and smokers help your class in its mission?

We have a number of competitions that students will enter to build their skills in leadership and personal growth. After the first year I reflected on how to get some of the more shy students involved in these competitions, and that’s when I had the idea to field a team to enter these BBQ competitions. With the help of other ag teachers and supportive administrators, we received the funding and resources to compete. The BBQ competitions are unique because they don’t require the students to perform in a spotlight in front of judges, but they do allow them to work with others in the service of their goal.

These extra pits will enable more students to participate in a program that we already know is successful. Before this donation we could only have maybe five or six kids involved in a competition. But with these added grills and smokers we can field a new team and double that number, and that’s a big help to reach more students, get them involved, and maybe change the trajectory of their lives.

We’re happy to help! And we’re looking forward to seeing you vanquish the competition at these events.

Absolutely. You know that resources are scarce for many people today, and it’s vital that we work with and have the support of small businesses like Barbells & Beef, so thank y’all for helping out!

What advice would you give to someone who is interested in supporting organizations and classes like yours?

If you’re interested in supporting my chapter, you can reach out to me (Adalberto Nava) directly through email at adalberto dot nava at uisd dot net

To help other programs in your city, county, or region, reach out to the Texas FFA office, and they will put you in contact with someone who can guide you through that process.

The competitive series we participate in is called HSBBQ. You can find more information and locate a competition near you on their website if you would like to get involved.

When and where is your next competition?

Our next competition will be in Laredo, Texas. We’re actually getting the chance to host our regional competition. It will be December 13 and 14 at Alexander High School. It will be the opportunity to qualify to compete in the state competition next year!

I’m excited for y’all! Best of luck in the competition!

Absolutely! I hope to see you there so you can sample some of the goods.

Oh I’ll do more than just sample.

Right on, brother!