Newbie with OK Joe's Highland

Do not worry about it.

did you season it inside and out? on your first fire you need to oil the outside and inside of the unit. .. this will sustain the paint a while longer than normal. paints peeling on the firebox right? like any smoker, that box gets too hot and the paint cant handle it... as soon as it starts peeling, take a rag with oil on it and course salt and go to town to remove all the loose paint. As long as there's oil on the metal, there will be no rust.