Episode 9 🧢 Ian Palmer | The Family Who Put Up the Flagpole in Los Olivos
Chopping It Up with Keith Saarloos · Released August 16, 2025 · Santa Ynez Valley, California
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About this conversation
In this episode of Chopping It Up, Keith sits down with Ian Palmer, a true homegrown son of Los Olivos whose family has been part of the Santa Ynez Valley for over a century. From his great-grandfather riding a bicycle out of Nebraska in the early 1900s, to raising the iconic Los Olivos flagpole that still anchors the town today, Ian’s family history is deeply woven into the roots of this valley.
But Ian’s story is far from just history—it’s about entrepreneurship, creativity, and community. From his early days in video production, to launching Inspired Emotion, to founding Authentic Leather Patch Co., Ian has built one of the valley’s most recognizable brands—supplying custom leather patch hats to businesses and adventurers across the country (and even spotting them as far away as Switzerland).
We talk about growing up in Los Olivos, riding dirt bikes through town before wineries took over, why locals “cut” the flagpole turn, and how the valley has evolved over the years. Ian also shares the hustle behind starting his company from a single sewing machine, the grind of building something that now ships nationwide, and his advice to young people about reaching out, taking risks, and chasing audacious goals.
This conversation is about heritage, hard work, and the entrepreneurial spirit that makes the Santa Ynez Valley what it is. If you’ve ever seen a leather patch hat in the valley—or across the country—chances are it came from Ian and his team.
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Los Olivos archive scene, 2006, by Antandrus, public domain. Context photograph; not a photograph of this recording. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Los_olivos_street.jpg
