Patio Ponderings

Send us Fan Mail In this solo episode of Patio Pondering , host Jim Smith, Ph. D., a swine nutritionist and farmer from Northeast Indiana, digs into the agronomic and personal lessons behind uneven corn emergence in the 2025 growing season. Drawing from his own no-till, cover-cropped fields, Jim discusses how planter setup , sidewall compaction , and low oxygen conditions caused by saturated soils...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a swine industry veteran opens up about the real cost of leadership, sobriety, and finding purpose after decades in feed sales? In this powerful episode of Patio Ponderings , Jim Smith sits down with Mark Johnson , a retired feed and livestock professional from Britt, Iowa, whose career spanned decades in swine nutrition, sales leadership, and industry transforma...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Patio Pondering , host Jim Smith, Ph. D., sits down with writer and farmwife Jen Campbell to tackle a topic close to every ag communicator’s heart — and frustration: the double-edged sword of “Tell your story.” From her Indiana farm to the far reaches of the internet, Jen has shared honest snapshots of real farm life — the beautiful, the messy, and sometimes, th...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Patio Pondering , host Jim Smith, Ph. D., sits down with Kaylee Keppy-McDonnell to explore the themes that have defined her journey through agriculture: communication, boundaries, and foundational values. From her roots on an Eastern Iowa farm to her new role as Director of Retail at United Animal Health, Kaylee shares how livestock judging, strong mentors, and...

Send us Fan Mail “ AT Amber would not be AT Amber if she had not been Miss Allen County. ” In this episode of Patio Ponderings , host Jim Smith, Ph. D. sits down with Amber Hoopengardner to explore her journey of reinvention after a career setback in agriculture. From her early days in 4-H and FFA to her lifelong passion for horse showing, Amber opens up about the personal and professional chapter...

Send us Fan Mail  In today’s episode of Patio Pondering , I’m joined by Tracey Snider , an agricultural leader whose career path has taken her from life on the Ranch to helping farmers and food companies connect more meaningfully with innovation and opportunity. Tracey shares how her early experiences raising livestock and working the land sparked a passion for communication, sustainability, and f...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode of Patio Pondering Podcast , Jim shares his personal story of overcoming career loss , finding new purpose , and building a new life after a job setback — all recorded from the patio where it began. Reflecting on the end of Holy Week and the passing of Pope Francis, Jim explores how quiet moments of solitude helped him navigate the aftermath of losing his 1...

Send us Fan Mail Karen Corrigan joins Patio Ponderings to talk agronomy, opportunity, and saying "yes" to success—plus a few laughs with friends along the way. In this episode of Patio Ponderings , Jim Smith sits down with Karen Corrigan, Certified Crop Adviser, educator, and co-owner of McGillicuddy Corrigan Agronomics. Karen shares her journey from Illinois farm country to becoming one...

Send us Fan Mail  In this solo episode of Patio Pondering , I explore the increasingly urgent topic of farmland preservation and rural land use through the lens of personal experience and regional change. Sparked by a conversation on The Little Red Barn Podcast , I reflect on the silent erosion of farm ground in northeast Indiana —not by massive developments, but by smaller projects: executive hou...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Description (Final Version): In this episode of Patio Pondering , we sit down with Amanda Minton, Manager of Reproductive Solutions at AcuFast Swine Genetics and Purdue University alum, to explore the journey from rural farm kid to leading expert in swine breeding and reproduction. Amanda shares how her agricultural roots and mentorship from Dr. Alan Schinckel laid the fou...

Send us Fan Mail  In this solo episode of Patio Ponderings , we take a short detour from exploring agriculture roots to reflect on today’s economic climate and personal resilience strategies. I dive into the impact of recent tariffs on agriculture and the broader economy, sharing how market volatility has affected our family's retirement accounts—and why we’re still committed to a long-term i...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Patio Ponderings , I sit down with Hayden Heigl, founder of Frosty Bunk , a fast-growing direct-to-consumer beef sales business based in Kansas. Hayden shares the story behind launching his local beef brand, how he’s connecting farm and consumer in today’s market, and what it takes to build trust—and a loyal customer base—in the farm-to-table movement. We talk a...

Send us Fan Mail "I remember riding with my grandfathers to deliver grain to the St. Joe Elevator in St. Joe, Indiana. Across the railroad tracks sat Crow’s Rainbow Farm Center. At the time, it felt like these places would always be there—until they weren’t." In this episode of Patio Ponderings , we take a look back at the agricultural businesses that once defined Northeast Indiana and N...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Patio Pondering , we sit down with Jason Scott of Scott Farms , a multi-generational farming operation in Delphi, Indiana . Jason shares his journey from growing up on the farm to navigating the challenges of modern agriculture. We discuss the evolution of Scott Farms , how technology has changed the industry, and the mindset needed to adapt in a rapidly shiftin...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Patio Pondering , we sit down with Malachi Malcolm , a passionate outdoorsman, mental health advocate, and creative entrepreneur from Laotto, Indiana . Malachi shares his personal journey through mental health struggles and highlights the importance of seeking help, supporting others, and breaking the stigma around teen suicide awareness . We also discuss his de...

Send us Fan Mail Not every veterinarian grows up on a farm. Some start as a horse-obsessed kid in the suburbs —and somehow end up deep in agriculture, animal medicine, and rural life . In this episode of Patio Pondering , I sit down with Dr. Kimberly Bedwell Smith, DVM —who also happens to be my wife—to talk about her unconventional path from horse-crazy kid to seasoned veterinarian . We dive into...

Send us Fan Mail New Episode: Building a Future in Agriculture with Hayden & Mary Marsh Heigele In this episode of Patio Pondering , we sit down with Hayden and Mary Marsh Heigele , two rising leaders in agriculture who have made their mark in Kansas and beyond . From their roots in Kansas and California to their time at Kansas State University and their current entrepreneurial ventures , Hayd...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Patio Pondering , we sit down with Paul Butler , a central Illinois farmer and Senior Development Manager in CRM at Express Scripts , to explore how his agricultural roots shaped his career in technology . Paul shares how growing up on a farm instilled problem-solving skills that now fuel his success in software development and customer relationship management....

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Patio Pondering , we turn the microphone on someone who’s usually behind it—Andy Vance, Executive Director of the Poultry Science Association and longtime agricultural broadcaster. As any good broadcaster knows, once the mic is live, there’s no shortage of thoughts to share, and Andy does just that in this candid and wide-ranging conversation. We explore Andy’s...

Send us Fan Mail It’s a milestone episode— Patio Ponderings hits 25 episodes! Today, I’m shaking things up by turning the mic on myself. 🔹 First, we’ll cover timely ag topics , including: The new USDA Secretary, Brooke Rollins—can she push a new Farm Bill through Congress? Commodity market shifts & USDA’s latest acreage projections—how are corn and soybeans stacking up? The bird flu crisis —1...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Patio Pondering , we sit down with Corey Hillebo , a fourth-generation farmer from Iowa and co-host of some of the most engaging conversations in agriculture on the Farm4Profit and Farm4Fun podcasts . We dive into Corey’s ag roots , the turning point in his teenage years when he knew he wanted to farm, and how his FFA experience shaped his mindset —teaching him...

Send us Fan Mail Mike Pearson’s name is well-known in agricultural media, but his journey to becoming one of the most recognized voices in farm broadcasting was anything but easy. In this episode of Patio Pondering , Mike opens up about the weight of legacy—stepping into his father Mark Pearson’s role at Market to Market after his sudden passing, then later taking on another iconic position at U.S...

Send us Fan Mail Agriculture isn’t just about growing crops—it’s about growing leaders . In this episode of Patio Pondering , I sit down with Lexy Turpchinoff , an agriculture educator at DeKalb High School , to explore how her non-farm upbringing shaped her journey into agricultural education. Unlike many in the industry, Lexy didn’t grow up on a farm or participate in FFA as a student—but that d...

Send us Fan Mail This episode deserved a second chance. The first time around, it got lost in the shuffle—but it’s one of my most personal reflections yet. So, I gave it a fresh title and a sharper focus. 100 days without bourbon. Five months of daily writing. A journey filled with unexpected lessons, quiet shifts, and one word that still doesn’t sit right: sobriety. In this episode, I reflect on:...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Patio Ponderings , I sit down with Tara Deines for a conversation about leadership, career transitions, and the evolving landscape of agriculture. Tara shares her journey, including a pivotal moment when she was asked if she’d be comfortable being the only woman in an office at a grain elevator—a question that speaks volumes about the challenges women still face...