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Patio Pondering
Clear Thinking for Complex Agriculture.
Hosted by Jim Smith, Ph.D., the Patio Pondering Podcast features thoughtful conversations with the people shaping agriculture. Together, we explore the experiences, ideas, and values that influence our industry and the lives behind it.
From researchers and farmers to entrepreneurs, educators, and industry leaders, each episode goes beyond the headlines to uncover the stories, decisions, and perspectives shaping agriculture today.
Patio Pondering
Who Needs to Be Doing This?
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
We all say we want young people to become leaders.
But are we willing to let them lead?
In this solo episode, I use what I call the 0.6x lens to look at three seemingly unrelated experiences: livestock showing, an Eagle Scout project, and preparing a crew for Philmont Scout Ranch.
The more I stepped back, the more I realized they were all asking the same question:
Who needs to be doing this?
Along the way, I share stories from agriculture, Scouting, and my own leadership experiences—including a few moments when I had to admit I didn't always get it right.
Whether you're a parent, mentor, teacher, employer, coach, or volunteer, I hope this conversation challenges you to think differently about what it really means to help someone grow.