The Pipes Magazine Radio Show – Episode 155

Kevin Godbee
Thank you for joining us for The Pipes Magazine Radio Show—the only radio talk show for pipe smokers and collectors. We broadcast weekly, every Tuesday at 8 pm eastern USA time and are available on nearly all podcast sites and apps. Listen on your computer, tablet, phone and even in the car! Our Featured Interview tonight is with Perique farmer from St. James Parish, Louisiana, Brandon Gravois. Brandon also farms sugar, soybeans and is a cattle producer. He was one of the four Louisiana Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award finalists in 2013. In "Pipe Parts", Brian will talk recap the Columbus pipe show. Sit back, relax with your pipe, and enjoy The Pipes Magazine Radio Show!

Tonight’s show is sponsored by Sutliff-Tobacco.com, CupOJoes.com, SmokingPipes.com, Missouri Meerschaum, 4noggins.com, Cornell & Diehl, and Savinelli Pipes and Tobaccos, and MarketingPipes.com. Please give them some consideration when making your next pipe or tobacco purchase.

We hope you enjoy our 1-hour show produced just for you—the pipe smoker and collector. The following link will launch a pop-up player. Alternatively, you can download the show in iTunes and other podcast sites and apps after the initial broadcast is complete here.

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Brandon Gravois, Perique Farmer in St. James Parish

Brandon was one of the four Louisiana Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award finalists in 2013. Check out this really cool video of him on the farm talking about Perique.

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8 Responses

  • Hi Brian,
    Nice seeing you in Columbus. It was another good show. Kudos to Jeff, Ed and all of the volunteers. I think some of the tobacco vendors underestimated the potential sales at the show and did not bring sufficient merchandise.
    Brandon Gravois is a new face to me. I had an uncle that raised some tobacco on his farm in Kentucky sort of for additional cash. Using it as a crop within their sugar cane rotation is a good way to move from a single crop farm. I didn’t realize how risky a crop it was to the farmers. I was fortunate to get one of the perique cigars from Mark Ryan at Columbus and it amazed me on how good it was as you know, I do not normally smoke a pipe tobacco containing perique. I guess I may have to change my ways.
    Music – SRV, what more can one say or need to?
    Rant – FedEx no longer shipping tobacco, oh well, don’t need them.
    Great Show Brian, may be one of your top interviews.

  • Hi Mr. Brian!
    Wow! That was a fabulous conversation with Brandon. What a gracious, hard-working, vital and interesting person he is. When one thinks of the quintessential American farmer, Brandon could be the poster model. Not only does he work his ass off, he is tied to Tradition, yet willing to be innovative, to make his crop better.
    Bravo Brandon; Bravo Brian.
    SRV… John said it.
    Why anyone in the tobacco industry, from the major companies, the distributors, the internet suppliers, to the smallest B&M, or, for that matter, our Brothers and Sisters in the tobacco community, would ever again use FedEx, for any shipping is beyond comprehension. FedEx is dead to me.
    Once again, Mr. Brian, a great show.
    Dino

  • Fantastic show. I couldn’t be happier to see the future of Perique in such capable hands.
    Hopefully you guys don’t spoil him too much.

  • The Columbus show is the cat’s meow. Tons of vendors and lots of pipe smokers within a 2-3 hour drive. They came up with the Friday night thing for the first time last year and it just took off. Jeff & Eddie and the others do a great job. Now I just need to get someone to sell me a tin of Elf-Weed to complete my collection. It is hard to imagine a good Turkish restaurant in Columbus, OH, but there had to be one somewhere.
    Just loved the interview with Brandon. His history of his family was very interesting. There is a lot of risk in farming and tobacco farming in particular. Never met a farmer who didn’t bemoan his lot in life and how tough it is to make a living farming. And yet they keep doing it. Crop farming is hard work and from early spring to late fall you are pretty much tied to the land. When he got to talking about the food he likes and the different fish that he can get in rivers and bayous makes me want to go read one of James Lee Burke’s books involving the Bayou Teche. Brandon has a touch of Old World courtliness about him.
    I thought Acadian Perique was code for tobacco that has been through the Perique process but not grown in St. James Parish.
    Yep, I’m done with FedEx.

  • Always a great show. Really fascinating to hear a bit about how Perique is produced- I had no idea it was so labor intensive. And darn it if Brandon didn’t sound just how I think a southern tobacco farm should, Mr. Brian.
    I believe I inspired a shipping related rant just a few episodes ago related to this, and I won’t be supporting FedEx.
    Great call on the SRV. You can play that style any time you want. Can’t wait until the day when my vacation, children, money, and moon cycles align to allow me to visit a pipe show- it sounds like an amazing time.

  • Another good show Brian, you always seem to find such interesting people to chat with. I am slightly envious! I’ll second your comments on going to a Pipe Show, I was a bit nervous before heading to Chicago this year but it was well worth the journey and I’m already looking forward to next year.
    Brandon really does sound like a southern farmer (no offence intended) it’s great to hear about people who carry on traditions like that especially when they contribute so much to our hobby.
    With regards to your comments in the Mailbag, I’ve never perceived anyone’s comments on the show to be particularly anti Aromatic, although my own tastes have changed away from them recently. Subliminal messages maybe?
    Rant, I don’t have a lot of dealings with FedEx here. I know Royal Mail don’t let you post tobacco here but there are ways around that if sufficiently motivated.

  • Interesting to hear Brandon and the history of his family’s farming and tobacco growing.
    As for the music selection, SRV left us to soon and as you know it’s been 25 years since his passing. Still a sad point in my life and many.
    As for the aro topic, smoke what you like. Like what you smoke.
    As for FedEx’s decision on tobacco products…I too say “F” ’em.

  • Hey Brian, I love the show; the interview with Brandon was outstanding. Columbus was my first pipe show and I had a blast (and really enjoyed meeting you as well). My wife also enjoyed the show so much that she is talking about us going to the Chicago show next year – how could one ask for a better wife? Anyway great show as always.

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