tech

Farmer ditches F-250 for Cybertruck. "It's fast."

Cybertruck farmer fights back against Big Agriculture by growing his food outside the control of corporations and their allies in government.

Published August 9, 2024 at 3:12pm by Jonathan Limehouse

A farmer in Idaho is going viral for using a Tesla Cybertruck on his 2,000-acre farm, despite mixed reactions from his community.

When farmer Braden Smith, 34, drives his Tesla Cybertruck around Idaho Falls, ID, he gets "a middle finger or a thumbs up." Smith, who is also a content creator, has amassed millions of views on TikTok for his unusual choice of vehicle, which he uses for his family's wheat and potato farm.

"It's been fun... it was just unfortunate that it kind of looks like a stainless steel fridge," Smith told USA Today. [https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2023/08/16/elon-musk-tesla-cybertruck-bradensmithfarms-potato-farmer-idaho-tiktok/12227990004/]

Smith, who trades in his pickup trucks often, justified the purchase due to the 50-amp plug in the back, which powers his welder and plasma compressor. He also enjoys the electric vehicle's speed and smooth ride, saying it glides down his dirt roads.

While Smith saves fuel, he didn't buy the Cybertruck to "go green." He towes that the vehicle may not be able to tow heavy loads for extended distances.

The Cybertruck, introduced by Elon Musk in 2019, is an electric pickup truck "built for any adventure." [https://www.tesla.com/cybertruck] Despite some recalls, Smith enjoys the unique vehicle, and believes it could appeal to other farmers if more affordable models become available.