Patio Ponderings

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Patio Pondering , we sit down with Dave Walton from Wilton, Iowa, a dedicated leader in the agricultural industry. With deep farming roots, Dave has made a lasting impact through his work with the Soybean Board and Diesel Board, advocating for sustainability, innovation, and energy solutions in modern agriculture. We discuss how his upbringing shaped his leaders...

Send us Fan Mail Change doesn’t always come with fanfare—sometimes it’s quiet, personal, and unexpected. In this episode of Patio Ponderings , I reflect on two milestones that have shaped the last few months of my life: five months of daily blogging and 100 days without bourbon (though I’m still not sure that’s the right word for it). This isn’t about labels or rigid goals. It’s about the small sh...

Send us Fan Mail Farm transitions can be one of the toughest challenges in agriculture. Too often, they lead to family conflict, financial strain, or an uncertain future. But what if there was a better way? In this episode of Patio Ponderings , I sit down with Ted Hamer , a lifelong farmer from Traer, Iowa, who successfully transitioned his farm to the next generation—without the usual pitfalls. T...

Send us Fan Mail This is the first of a two-part conversation with Micah Malcolm, a standout athlete and rising star in the show pig industry. In this episode, Micah shares his roots growing up on his grandparents’ farm, where he learned invaluable lessons from his grandfather Kenny and father in the farrowing house and livestock pens. We also dive into his roles at Sam Malcolm and Family Show Pig...

Send us Fan Mail In the second part of our conversation with Micah Malcolm, we dive deeper into his insights as a show pig breeder, coach, and team leader. Micah shares valuable advice for beginning showmen, offering tips and lessons he’s learned to help others succeed in the competitive world of show pigs. We also tackle a controversial topic in the industry—sow and gilt breeding soundness and th...

Send us Fan Mail I this episode of  Patio Pondering , we bring you conversations from the Fort Wayne Farm Show, where I spoke with 10 incredible agriculture professionals. From grain merchandising to farm broadcasting, each shared their thoughts on the future of agriculture in 2025 and the lessons from their ag roots that shape their daily lives. 💡 In this episode, we discuss: ✅ What these profe...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Patio Pondering, we sit down with AJ Friedges, a numbers-driven livestock and crop farmer and agribusiness professional from northeastern Iowa. Known for his meticulous focus on profit projections and profitability analysis, AJ uses his expertise to manage his cattle and crop farms while helping his customers at Farmers Mill achieve their own financial goals. We...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Patio Pondering , we sit down with Dave Voors , a seasoned agribusiness professional and active crop farmer from Monroeville, Indiana. With experience spanning equipment sales, agricultural banking, and managing his own crop farm , Dave brings a unique, firsthand perspective on the intersection of farming, finance, and innovation. We explore: ✅ How his farming...

Send us Fan Mail This is the first of a three-part conversation with Todd Thurman , founder of Swine Insights , industry consultant, and co-host of the Business of Ag Success Group with Damian Mason . In this episode, Todd shares his journey from the dusty plains of the Texas Panhandle to Texas Tech University and how his career path led him to international consulting in the swine industry. We ex...

Send us Fan Mail This is the final installment of my three-part conversation with Todd Thurman , industry consultant, founder of Swine Insights , and co-host of the Business of Ag Success Group with Damian Mason . In this episode, Todd answers our five standard closing questions—but as always, the discussion takes us in some unexpected directions. Over the past few decades, consolidation and inves...

Send us Fan Mail This is the second installment of my three-part conversation with Todd Thurman , founder of Swine Insights , industry consultant, and co-host of the Business of Ag Success Group with Damian Mason . In this episode, we continue our deep dive into consolidation in the swine industry , examining the long-term impacts on profitability, producers, and global markets . What started as a...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode of Patio Pondering , I sit down with my son, Toby Smith, for a conversation that spans from international trade to life on the farm. Toby kicks things off by sharing insights into his job as a Pet Food Salesman with Fletcher International, where he works to get lamb from Australia into the hands of customers across the United States. From there, we take a t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Patio Ponderings , I sit down with Dane Emenhiser, owner of Emenhiser Crop Solutions, to explore the intersection of tradition and innovation in modern agriculture. Growing up on a family farm in eastern Allen County, Dane developed a passion for farming and agronomy that led him to a career in seed sales and eventually taking ownership of his seed dealership in...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Grant Hood, a dynamic leader in agricultural education and innovation. From his roots as an 4H and FFA member, education at Ivy Tech, Purdue University, and University of Arkansas to his teaching experiences at Carroll High School and his role in Technical Sales at Topcon, Grant shares his incredible journey through the evolving world of agricultur...

Send us Fan Mail In this personal and introspective episode, I share my journey of 60 days without alcohol—a decision that has brought unexpected clarity, challenges, and growth. I dive into what inspired this change, the lessons I’ve learned, and how it’s reshaped my perspective on life and resilience. Drawing inspiration from Nikki Glaser’s candid reflections on sobriety with Joe Rogan, I explor...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Patio Ponderings , we dive into the realities behind the “Buy Local” movement in meat production. Inspired by my own experiences selling lamb and a video from a candid Iowa farmer, I explore the hidden challenges that small livestock producers face—bottlenecks at local processors, consumer preferences for premium cuts, and the hard truth about scaling niche mark...

Send us Fan Mail In this bonus episode of Patio Ponderings, I take you behind the scenes to share how AI has become an invaluable partner in my creative process. From refining my daily reflections to streamlining podcast production and conducting insightful interviews, AI has transformed the way I work. I also tackle the big ethical question: Is using AI cheating? Discover how I use AI not as a re...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Patio Pondering , we take a reflective journey through five of the most engaging posts I’ve shared on LinkedIn over the past several months. These posts resonated deeply with my network, sparking thought-provoking discussions around themes that matter to all of us. From the generosity of an Amish family during harvest, to the ways we define ourselves beyond...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Patio Pondering Podcast! I'm Jim Smith—a husband, father, farmer, and seasoned swine nutritionist—and I’m thrilled to introduce myself and the story behind the 'Patio Pondering' series. In this first episode, I’ll share the inspiration that sparked the podcast, offer a glimpse into my life and education, and lay out the vision...