🔥 2026 NBBQA Conference & 35th Anniversary Celebration

📅 March 25–28, 2026
📍 Travellers Rest Historic House Museum – Nashville, Tennessee

Join the National Barbecue & Grilling Association as we celebrate 35 years of barbecue excellence with four days of education, networking, competitions, and unforgettable experiences in Music City.

🏨 Host Hotels

Hilton Garden Inn Nashville Brentwood
217 Centerview Drive, Brentwood, TN
📞 (615) 370-5040

SpringHill Suites Brentwood
7109 Town Center Way, Brentwood, TN 37027
📞 (615) 265-0335

Note: Hilton Garden Inn has King Rooms available - Call Janet at office at (800) 385-0002 or her cell at (912) 501-0971.  

🎶 Wednesday – March 25

Welcome to Nashville

Kick off our 35th Anniversary with a relaxed day of tours, food, and fellowship.

🚌 BBQ Restaurant & Bourbon Tour

🕙 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Add-On Event | Separate Ticket Required

Visit iconic Nashville barbecue destinations:

• Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint
• Jack’s Bar-B-Que
• Peg Leg Porker (Bourbon Tasting Room)

Details:

• Transportation included
• Advance registration required
• Departs from Hilton Garden Inn

🤝 Past Presidents’ Welcome Reception

🕔 5:00 – 8:00 PM
📍 Travellers Rest

Reconnect, relax, and enjoy Southern hospitality.

🔥 Thursday – March 26

Building the BBQ Business

Funding • Profitability • Branding • Operations

☀️ 8:30 – 9:00 AM

Morning Welcome with Donuts, Coffee & Devotion
Faith & Fires Ministry

🕘 9:00 – 10:00 AM

Track A – Show Me the Money: Funding Your BBQ Dream
Moderator: Janet Phelps
Panelists: Carey Bringle, Jody Harris, Pathway Lending (SBA)

Track B – From Kitchen to Co-Packer
Moderator: Todd Johns
Panelists: Mark Lambert, Kirk Malzer, David Mixon, Ken Wood

🤝 10:00 – 10:15 AM

Networking Break

🕙 10:15 – 11:15 AM

Track A – Profit First for Pitmasters
Panelists: Carey Bringle, David Walley (SBA)

Track B – Save While You Smoke
Panelists: David Eaheart, Barbara Latimer

🍽 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM

Lunch & Networking (Included)

🔥 12:00 – 1:00 PM

Pitmaster Power Hour – Roundtables

Choose your topic and engage directly with industry leaders:

• Funding
• Marketing
• SBA Resources
• Retail
• Competition
• Co-Packing
• Restaurant Operations

🤝 1:00 – 1:15 PM

Networking Break

🕐 1:15 – 2:15 PM

Track A – Brand Smoke: Digital Marketing That Converts
Moderator: Janet Phelps
Panelists: Ashley Henson, Kirk Malzer, David Walley (SBA)

Track B – Menu Engineering & Pricing for Profit
Moderator: Kell Phelps
Panelists: Carey Bringle, Barbara Latimer

🤝 2:15 – 2:30 PM

Networking Break

🕝 2:30 – 3:30 PM

Track A – Branding a BBQ Business: From First Flame to Final Sale
Moderator: Kell Phelps
Panelists: Famous Dave Anderson, Carey Bringle

Track B – Hiring, Training & Keeping a Great Pit Crew
Moderator: Janet Phelps
Panelists: Barbara Latimer, Clay & Pam Murphy, David Walley (SBA)

🤝 3:30 – 3:45 PM

Networking Break

🕒 3:45 – 4:30 PM

Small Business Administration Session
Resources to help your business grow

🕟 4:30 – 5:00 PM

Awards of Excellence Setup

🏆 Awards of Excellence Dinner

Powered by Prairie Fresh
🕔 5:00 – 9:00 PM

Celebrate the best in barbecue.

• 5:00 PM – Bar Opens
• 6:00 PM – Dinner Buffet
• 7:00 PM – Awards Ceremony

🔥 Friday – March 27

Scaling & Marketing Smarter

Growth • Branding • Retail • Technology

☀️ 8:30 – 9:00 AM

Morning Welcome with Donuts, Coffee & Devotion

🕘 9:00 – 10:00 AM

Track A – Scaling Without Losing Your Smoke
Moderator: Kell Phelps
Panelists: Kent Black, Carey Bringle

Track B – Retail Ready: Getting Your Product on Store Shelves
Moderator: Todd Johns
Panelists: Mark Lambert, Kirk Malzer, Ken Wood

🤝 10:00 – 10:15 AM

Networking Break

🕙 10:15 – 11:15 AM

Track A – Social Media & Sales Funnels for BBQ Brands
Moderator: Kell Phelps
Presenter: Smokin Brothers / Gateway Drum Smokers

Track B – Smart Systems: Automating Your Daily Grind
Moderator: Janet Phelps
Presenter: Kirk Malzer

🤝 11:15 – 11:30 AM

Networking Break

🍽 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Meet the Masters Luncheon (Included)

Moderator: Kell Phelps

Featuring:

• Tuffy Stone
• Mark Lambert
• Joe Phillips
• Carey Bringle
• Elizabeth Lipa

🤝 1:00 – 1:15 PM

Networking Break

🕐 1:15 – 2:15 PM

Track A – Cash Out or Pass It Down
Moderator: Kell Phelps
Speaker: Kent Black

Track B – Partnerships That Work
Moderator: Ken Wood
Panelists: SBA, Pick Tennessee Products

🤝 2:15 – 2:30 PM

Networking Break

🕝 2:30 – 3:30 PM

Track A – Reel Results: Short-Form Video & Photography
Panelists: Ashley Henson, Kirk Malzer

Track B – Problem Solver Session – Group Networking
Moderators: Janet & Kell Phelps

🔥 4:30 PM

Night of Fire – Let’s Get Ready to Rumble

🔥 Night of Fire Events

🔥 5:30 – 7:00 PM

Live Fire Grilling Dinner with Meadow Creek

🥩 Rhinestone Cowboy Steak Cookoff

2:00 PM — Move In SCA Teams 
4:00 PM — Rhinestone Cowboy Cooks Meeting/Steak Selection
5:00 PM — Rhinestone Cowboy Judges Meeting

Turn-Ins

5:30 – 5:45 PM — Anything Nashville
6:00 – 6:15 PM — Anything Bourbon Cocktail
7:00 – 7:30 PM — Rhinestone Cowboy Steak Turn-In

🏆 9:00 PM — Awards Presentation

🍖 Rib Wrangler Cookoff

2:00 PM — Move In ROCA Teams
4:30 PM — Rib Wranglers Cooks Meeting
7:30 PM — Rib Wrangler Judges Meeting

Turn-Ins

7:45 – 8:15 PM — Rib Wrangler Rib Turn-Ins

🏆 9:00 PM — Awards Presentation

🔥 Saturday – March 28 | CONFERENCE DAY 4 CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY

Competition Timeline

7:00 am - Steak and Rib Cookoff Teams Check-In & Set Up

7:30 am Cooks Church - Faith & Fires Ministry

8:00 am - Live Fire Championship Cooks Meeting

8:30 am - Live Fire "Fire Up" Command

9:30 am - RCOA Cooks Meeting

10:00 am - SCA Cooks Meeting/Steak Selection

10:30 am - Live Fire Championship Judges Meeting

11:00 am Live Fire Championship First Round Begins

11:30 am SCA Cooks Judges Meeting

12:00:  RCA Judges Meeting

1:00 - 1:30 pm:  SCA Steak Turn In

2:00 - 2:30 pm:  RCA Ribs Turn In

3:00 pm Live Fire Championship Pork Round Begins

5:00 pm live Fire Championship Beef Round Begins

🏆 Championship Awards Ceremony

6:00 – 7:00 PM

Celebrate the weekend’s champions:
• Steak Cookoff Winners
• Rib Cookoff Winners
• National Live Fire Invitational Championship powered by Yoder Smoker

🥂 7:00 PM   Closing Toast & Farewell

Final remarks from Kell & Janet Phelps, thank-yous to our sponsors, and a toast to 35 years of barbecue excellence.