I recently traveled to San Antonio for the Nat­ional Pork Industry For­um. Other Iowa farmers, Sam Carney and Aaron Juergens, were also traveling to the meeting, so naturally they talked farm while we waited for our delayed connection to Chicago. Another farmer, Jeff Schon, was traveling with his wife to Florida via the Des Moines Airport. He knew Juergens, so he joined the conversation.

In talking with the three farmers, I was quickly reminded that farmers think constantly about their farms. Leaving the farm for a trip means delegating chores to family and hired employees, but...