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 61: Jay Setchell – It’s Always Too Soon to Quit
In this episode of the Patio Pondering Podcast, I sit down with Jay Setchell for a wide-ranging conversation shaped by farm life, service, perseverance, and the quiet grit required to keep moving forward when life gets hard.
Jay grew up on a working farm where responsibility came early and lessons were learned through doing. From dangerous chores around silos and augers to long days learning efficiency one acre at a time, those early experiences formed a deep respect for hard work, accountability, and the risks that come with producing food.
Our discussion moves through Jay’s reflections on community and small-town life, the importance of neighbors helping neighbors, and how those early examples of service shaped the way he views responsibility and leadership today. Jay shares stories that highlight both the strength and fragility of rural life, and the lasting impact of showing up for others when it matters most.
Later in the conversation, Jay opens up about facing serious illness, extended hospitalization, and moments when quitting would have been understandable. He reflects on the mindset that carried him through those seasons, the importance of attitude, and why persistence often matters more than circumstance.
This episode is a thoughtful reflection on resilience, responsibility, and the belief that it is always too soon to quit.
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Patio Pondering is a long-form podcast exploring the important and the obscure in agriculture through thoughtful conversation.