Patio Ponderings
Exploring the Expected and the Obscure in Agriculture
From a lifetime in agriculture to deep dives into leadership, rural life, and the evolving food system, Patio Pondering is a podcast where thoughtful conversations meet the open air. Hosted by Jim Smith, Ph.D., a seasoned Swine Nutritionist, agricultural thinker, and storyteller, this podcast explores the connections between our agricultural roots and the broader world.
What started as daily reflections—scribbled with a morning coffee in hand—has grown into a podcast that uncovers the insights, challenges, and sometimes-forgotten history of the industry that feeds us all. Whether solo pondering or engaging in candid discussions with guests, this show digs into everything from livestock production to food trends, rural business shifts, and the personal stories that shape agricultural life.
Now available in both audio and video formats, Patio Pondering brings these discussions to life on YouTube and podcast platforms alike. Whether you prefer to listen on the go or watch the conversation unfold, you’ll find fresh perspectives, candid storytelling, and the kind of conversations that make you think twice.
Subscribe and join the conversation—because agriculture is more than just dirt and livestock. It’s a story worth telling.
Patio Ponderings
Episode 43: Mark Johnson - Feed, Faith, and Finding Purpose After the Fall
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 transformation.
Together, they explore:
- The early days of grinding ear corn and mixing bags at his father’s feed mill
- The collapse of the 1980s farm economy and how it took down the family business
- Surviving the 1998 swine crash, the shift to integrated systems, and the fading loyalty in feed sales
- The emotional trauma of COVID-19 in agriculture — including the mass euthanasia of pigs
- Sobriety, the loss of two marriages, and finding Christ at age 60
- The urgent need for real male friendships, mental health support, and mentorship in agriculture
Mark’s story is a reflection of the challenges too many professionals in the livestock and feed industry carry silently. This isn’t just about pigs and profit margins — it’s about identity, purpose, and healing.
📌 Whether you’re a swine nutritionist, feed sales rep, livestock producer, or simply someone who’s ever felt like you’ve given too much to your job — this episode is for you.