Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What’s the secret ingredient in world-class Texas barbecue? According to the best pitmasters in the state—it’s not just the meat. It’s the wood.
We travel to Smithville, Texas, where Javier Sanchez and his father Joel run Chief Firewood, a family business supplying post oak, mesquite, and pecan to some of the biggest names in barbecue—including Franklin Barbecue, La Barbecue, Terry Black’s, and Interstellar BBQ. With clients on the Texas Monthly Top 50 list, and even a few in the Top 10, Chief Firewood plays a key role in shaping the taste of Texas.
See the 2025 Texas Monthly Top 50 list here: texasmonthly.com/interactive/top-50-bbq-2025
But the story isn’t just about firewood. It’s about legacy. Javier didn’t always want to be in the family business—but a conversation with a friend changed everything. Now he runs day-to-day operations, making deliveries, managing social media, and building on the foundation his father laid decades ago after immigrating from Mexico.
With long days, clean-burning wood, and deep pride in their work, the Sanchez family proves that the heart of Texas barbecue doesn’t start in the kitchen—it starts in the yard.
👉 Subscribe for more stories about the unsung heroes who make Texas what it is.
Chief Firewood
Javier Sanchez
PO Box 566
Smithville, TX 78957
Website: chief-firewood.com
Episode #: 1964
Original air date: 4-19-2025
Tik Tok ► vm.tiktok.com/ZMR7EpeVw
Facebook ► facebook.com/TexasCountryReporter
Instagram ► instagram.com/texascountryreporter
What’s the secret ingredient in world-class Texas barbecue? According to the best pitmasters in the state—it’s not just the meat. It’s the wood.
We travel to Smithville, Texas, where Javier Sanchez and his father Joel run Chief Firewood, a family business supplying post oak, mesquite, and pecan to some of the biggest names in barbecue—including Franklin Barbecue, La Barbecue, Terry Black’s, and Interstellar BBQ. With clients on the Texas Monthly Top 50 list, and even a few in the Top 10, Chief Firewood plays a key role in shaping the taste of Texas.
See the 2025 Texas Monthly Top 50 list here: texasmonthly.com/interactive/top-50-bbq-2025
But the story isn’t just about firewood. It’s about legacy. Javier didn’t always want to be in the family business—but a conversation with a friend changed everything. Now he runs day-to-day operations, making deliveries, managing social media, and building on the foundation his father laid decades ago after immigrating from Mexico.
With long days, clean-burning wood, and deep pride in their work, the Sanchez family proves that the heart of Texas barbecue doesn’t start in the kitchen—it starts in the yard.
👉 Subscribe for more stories about the unsung heroes who make Texas what it is.
Chief Firewood
Javier Sanchez
PO Box 566
Smithville, TX 78957
Website: chief-firewood.com
Episode #: 1964
Original air date: 4-19-2025
Tik Tok ► vm.tiktok.com/ZMR7EpeVw
Facebook ► facebook.com/TexasCountryReporter
Instagram ► instagram.com/texascountryreporter
