Finding family and tradition in Tarleton’s BBQ Association

BY COLTON BRADBERRY

Managing Editor

Smoke, spice and fellowship are at the heart of Tarleton State University’s BBQ Association, a student-run group that blends tradition with community. For its members, barbecue is more than food; it is a way to learn, connect and share one of Texas’ most iconic cultural practices.

The organization’s mission is simple. According to its TexanSync profile, “The Tarleton BBQ Association is a student-run organization at Tarleton State University dedicated to advancing one of Texas’s most cherished traditions: barbecue. Our mission is to preserve, teach, and share the art and culture of smoking meats—all while serving exceptional barbecue to the university and local community.”

President Zachary Jennings said that sense of teaching and togetherness is what guides the group this semester.

“Our plans for the semester are pretty simple; teach the newer members,” Jennings said. “We have 30 members in our new member group chat. Just getting them here and teaching them good barbecue and good fellowship.”

One of the group’s biggest events this fall will be the Campus Smoke Show, set for Nov. 15. The cook-off invites student organizations across Tarleton to compete in three categories: ribs, chicken and specialty items.

The association stays busy throughout the year with events that highlight both cooking and community. Members take part in cook-offs, tailgates, workshops and fundraisers. The group is planning to expand those opportunities even further.

“We did a cook-off in the spring, we do the tailgates in the fall,” Jennings said. “We do fundraisers, workshops and maybe in the spring we’re going to start doing cultural barbecues.”

By adding cultural barbecue events, the association hopes to broaden members’ knowledge of different cooking techniques and traditions beyond the traditional Texas style.

Jennings brings years of experience to the role. What started as a personal passion became a skill he now uses to lead and teach others.

“I’ve been cooking for 12 years, so I like to claim I’m pretty good at it,” Jennings said.

That expertise helps newer members learn not just how to prepare meats but also how to work together as a team. Workshops cover the basics of smoking, seasoning and fire control, while also teaching patience and attention to detail; traits that carry over beyond the grill.

While food is the centerpiece, Jennings emphasized that the group is just as much about building connections. Students find a sense of belonging in an organization that values teamwork, tradition and service.

For many, the association becomes a family away from home. Tailgates, fundraisers and cook-offs bring people together across campus, and the meals they share often turn into opportunities to meet new friends.

In a state where barbecue is considered both craft and culture, the association’s work goes beyond campus. By teaching the next generation of pitmasters, the group ensures that the traditions of smoking and sharing meals will continue.

As Jennings put it, the semester is about more than fire and smoke; it is about people.

“It’s just showing them what it means to have a group and a family,” Jennings said.

For updates, photos and upcoming events, follow the association on Instagram at @tarletonbbqassociation.