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Welcome Country Squire Radio on boat, and John David is still out, ladies and gentlemen, on paternity. And what a week to be out. We've got some breaking news that's going on in the pipe industry. And I know that nobody wants to tune in to hear my personal thoughts on that, especially without John David. I can provide, you know, some commentary, but nothing to the extent that he brings to the table. Now, of course, the breaking news that I'm talking about is what was announced earlier this week that Scandinavian Tobacco Group, STG Lane, has announced that it will be reducing the number of its production sites, and as a result, will be closing STG Lane Limited's facility in Tucker, Georgia. Now, this is a very special site, especially to John David and I, because a few years ago,

we had the opportunity to go in for a visit, kind of go behind the scenes, as it were. And you'll hear me talk about it in just a minute more, but it was really kind of a Charlie in the Chocolate Factory moment, especially for John David. I mean, for both of us, but you should have seen the look on this guy's face when he's kind of going through and seeing all of these aged pipe tobaccos or aged tobacco is still in leaf

form and the various places where they may receive casing and that sort of thing. And it was very special. Plus, there's some wonderful people there as well. And obviously this news impacts the local folks there very heavily. But it also has been impacting the industry as a whole. A lot of you have

written in, wondering, kind of our thoughts on this, and kind of hoping to gain some more

information and what this could mean. Well, since John David is out, I thought there's probably

nobody better to reach out to than STG themselves. So we've got on the line with this joining

us here in just a moment. Leonard Wartzel, who's the vice president of marketing and product development for STG Lane, and really, really honored to

have him on the show and kind of talk about some, honestly, some tough issues. With that being

said, sit back, relax, and enjoy this conversation with Leonard Worssel. Leonard, thanks so much

for coming on Country Squire Radio today. No problem. Appreciate the opportunity. Absolutely. Well, hey, first of all, before we kind of get into the news of the day, I'd like for our listeners to kind of get a little acclimated to you. You know, we like to kind of get a sense of any kind of guess, their pipe story, so to speak.

But are you more of a cigar or a pipe guy?

No, I'm a pipe guy.

I was a pipe smoker probably going back when I was about 25,

although I didn't get in the tobacco industry until 2011.

I had moved to Costa Rica and was working as a copywriter and an ad agency down there. And then I moved to Dallas in 95.

And my dad had spoke to pipe, but I just had some time to kill and needed a new vice.

So I went out and got a Missouri Merrisham and a pouch of Captain Black, probably at a Walgreens back in the day.

All right.

That's, I think, a Missouri Miriam and Captain Black is a, I was like a gayway for many.

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