About PNWBA

The Pacific Northwest Barbecue Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and enjoyment of barbecue in the Northwest. The PNWBA is committed to educating the public in the furtherance and development of authentic barbecue knowledge through cooking classes, judging classes, and competition barbecue cooking events. Our organization is managed by a Board of Directors who are made up completely with volunteers. It was formed in 1991 by a group of Northwestern barbecuers. Over the years it has grown from 20 members to over 800 internationally. The PNWBA publishes a news letter called Drippings from the Pit. This publication reaches it's 800 plus members informing them about the world of BBQ in our region.

Since it's beginnings the PNWBA has been putting on BBQ contests from as far north as Whistler, British Columbia and south to Oregon and east to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Included among these events are many state and provincial championships. The winners/grand champions of these BBQ contests are qualified to be invited to cook at national and world championship events. Among these are the American Royal, the Jack Daniels World Invitational Championship Barbecue Contest, the Great American and several others. At these contests our cooks have gone head to head and grill to grill with the world best cooks and brought home the gold. The ranks of the PNWBA include the finest cooks in the world bar none. These events have been widely attended by the public in the upwards of 20,000 people. Also it has raised money for charitable events and good causes all around the Northwest.

Each year the Association hosts BBQ cooking and competition judging classes to educate the public and pass on the culinary art of barbecue cooking. Some of the teachers of these classes include BBQ Guru's Smoky Hale, Paul Kirk the Kansas City Baron of BBQ, Ray Lampe AKA Dr. BBQ, Myron Mixon of Jack's old South fame, Tony Stone and Merle Ellis, including our very own All Star Pitmasters. Our All Star Pitmasters class covers the cooking of chicken, rib, beef brisket and pork butt as well as BBQ theory. Graduates of our Pitmaster's classes have gone on to be national and world champs or just darn good backyard BBQ chefs.

As the PNWBA has evolved and grown so has the world of competition BBQ. It is now seen on national TV, in news papers, magazines and many cook books. It is championed by BBQ evangelists like Steve Raichlen, Mo Cason, Rodney Scott,  Michael Symon, Kevin Bludsoe,  Melissa Cookston and Megan Day, ,  Contests are growing into huge multimedia events with the prize money up to $50,000. The Pacific Northwest Barbecue Association is also rising to the challenge by putting on bigger and better public friendly events with the focus being on the cooks (the back bone of the association). The future is now, so let's cook!!!