Patio Pondering LLC

09/10/2026

Two years ago, Patio Pondering began as a place to write, think, and search for clarity after life took an unexpected turn.

Since then, it has grown into hundreds of essays, more than 100 podcast conversations, new professional opportunities, and Patio Pondering LLC.

Today, the rebuilt PatioPondering.com brings the work together in one place: writing, podcasting, agricultural consulting, and speaking.

The website also introduces Beyond the Silos, a new keynote built around a lesson I took far too long to learn: the different parts of our lives do not have to compete with one another. Sometimes our clearest thinking and most meaningful work begin when we let those parts work together.

Take a look around:

https://www.patiopondering.com/

Clear Thinking for Complex Agriculture.

Be safe out there.

Patio PonderingClear Thinking for Complex Agriculture Reflections & Analysis from the Field, the Barn, and the Marketing DeskI’m Dr. Jim Smith, a farmer, swine nutritionist, and storyteller. From the quiet moments on the patio to the big lessons from the barn, I share reflections, insights, and la...

09/08/2026

I have known Sean Arians for years through Ag Twitter, farming, and our work in agriculture. But it took a conversation while I was riding a bus to Philmont Scout Ranch for me to discover that Sean had experienced Philmont as both a Scout and an adult leader.

That became the starting point for a conversation about resilience, community, leadership, making room for the next generation, flying, farming, and the changes confronting agriculture.

We eventually arrived at a larger question. Why should people care about agriculture?

Sean believes agriculture touches far more people, careers, businesses, and communities than most recognize. It is our responsibility to help them understand why it matters.

The new Patio Pondering episode is “Why People Should Care.”

Be safe out there.

https://www.patiopondering.com/podcast/why-people-should-care

09/04/2026

Letting the cat out of the bag — John Canary was a guest on the Patio this week. His episode talking about his life at Canary Farms-Johnson County, Indiana in Johnson County, Indiana will drop in a few weeks. In the meantime, give them a follow to see how their farm survives on the outskirts of Indianapolis as the suburbs continue to encroach. It's a story that hits home for anyone watching their landscape change around them.

We hit 4,000 followers yesterday, with plenty of room to spare. What started as a way to promote what we do and to reach customers and landowners 13 years ago has become an every day part of what we do. We greatly appreciate those that enjoy following along in our daily lives on the farm. We know there are many that watch just to gossip and I will say it’s a heavy load to carry personally sometimes. We appreciate each and every person that follows, interacts and supports us. Whether it’s liking a post or buying a product. Agriculture is an ever changing industry and we have no idea what the future holds. One day at a time and always trying to evolve.

Side note-I was a guest on a podcast earlier this week and one thought discussed was what is my endgame? What’s the exit strategy from sharing your life publicly? Or what’s the transition to another generation, the social media part. You can sell a piece of farm equipment or cull an animal, how do you manage a social media page with thousands and thousands of photos, thoughts and events shared?

It’s been fun and we hope we can provide good content for you for many more years. Here’s an old picture, think cold thoughts today!

09/01/2026

What happens when a conversation about the differences between Canadian and U.S. agriculture keeps revealing how much farmers actually have in common?

Central Alberta farmer John Kowalchuk joins me on the Patio to talk about financial pressure, optimism, solitude, social media, , and how our definition of success changes over time.

Eventually, we arrive at a deceptively simple question:

When is enough enough?

🎙️ New episode Tuesday at 6:00 AM
When Is Enough Enough? | John Kowalchuk

https://www.patiopondering.com/podcast/when-is-enough-enough

Be Safe Out There!

08/31/2026

Competence Doesn't Interrupt You Long Enough to Photograph It

And drama gets our attention. A fire gets our attention. An accident gets our attention. Traffic at a dead stop gets our attention. When something goes wrong, it interrupts us. We stop, we look, and somewhere in there somebody pulls out a phone.

08/28/2026

Pony Up!

I got into trouble this week responding to a post on Facebook. The post was advertising a 4-H'er's pig for sale after the end of its show career. I did not have an issue with them selling the pig, my issue was with the use of the watermarked photo copied from the photographer commissioned by the sh

08/26/2026

Some conversations take a turn you don't expect.

Cory Ritter joined the Patio to talk about farming, sales, social media, and agriculture.

Then we realized we were recording on the one-year anniversary of the grain-bin accident that killed his father and farming partner, Tom.

Cory chose to talk about it.

Be Safe Out There — Cory Ritter

https://www.patiopondering.com/podcast/be-safe-out-there

08/25/2026

We started out talking about farming, sales, social media, and what agriculture might be getting wrong.

Then the conversation turned.

Cory Ritter joined the Patio on the one-year anniversary of the grain-bin accident that killed his father and farming partner, Tom.

Cory wrestles openly with anger, responsibility, the risks we convince ourselves we can handle, the people who show up when everything changes, and the unfinished work of figuring out how to move forward.

This is a conversation that went places neither of us expected.

Be Safe Out There

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08/24/2026

Grandstands Should Stay at the Fairgrounds

For comparison, my own farm semi runs $1,400 a year to register, so the extra $20 is the kind of thing I'd only notice while looking at the total, not the kind of thing that keeps anyone up at night. But it made for a good fight at the podium.

08/21/2026

Make Hay When The Sun Shines?

Yesterday we had one of those pop-up showers that dumped a quarter-inch of rain on our area. As that rain fell, I felt a bit of satisfaction that our hay was still growing, waiting to be cut.