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Not every veterinarian grows up on a farm. Some start as a horse-obsessed kid in the suburbs—and somehow end up deep in agriculture, animal medicine, and rural life.

In this episode of Patio Pondering, I sit down with Dr. Kimberly Bedwell Smith, DVM—who also happens to be my wife—to talk about her unconventional path from horse-crazy kid to seasoned veterinarian. We dive into:

• How a childhood love of horses led her to vet school
• The gritty realities of starting a career a mixed animal vet
• How she transitioned to small animal practice in Fort Wayne—and what she never expected about the change
• The misconceptions about veterinary medicine most people don’t realize
• The struggles of work-life balance as a vet, farm wife, and mom
• The dark side of veterinary medicine—burnout, mental health challenges, and why the profession has one of the highest suicide rates

Of course, we wrap up with my five signature questions, exploring agriculture’s impact, the quirks of veterinary life, and the small changes that could reshape the future of animal care.

This raw, real, and unfiltered conversation pulls back the curtain on the pressures vets face, the sacrifices they make, and the moments that make it all worthwhile. Whether you’re in ag, animal care, or just curious about the industry, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.