Idaho Farmer Goes Viral for Trading In His Pickup Truck for a Tesla Cybertruck, and He's Never Looking Back

When farmer Braden Smith drives his Tesla Cybertruck through Idaho Falls, Idaho, he gets some interesting reactions: "It's either the middle finger or the thumbs up."

"It's insane because I really am a nice guy," Smith, 34, told USA TODAY. ^1

The unlikely pairing of a shiny, electric Cybertruck with a 2,000-acre potato and wheat farm has captivated TikTok, with Smith's videos amassing millions of views. He's only had the Cybertruck since April, and it's already proven its worth on the farm.

"It's been fun... I can weld all day with this thing and still be OK. It's been good for around the farm."

Smith, a frequent trade-in of his previous pickup trucks, justified the purchase due to the 50-amp plug, which powers his welder and plasma compressor. It may look like a "stainless steel fridge," but it ticks most of the boxes for what he needs on his farm.

Smith first went viral on TikTok in May 2021 with a wallpaper of cats singing Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," accumulating over 16 million views. This spurred him on to create more content, and he's been monetizing his online presence ever since.

While Smith doesn't own the Cybertruck to 'go green,' he does save on fuel. The real reason his license plate reads "Coal Fed" has people scratching their heads. A minor drawback is the vehicle's towing capacity, but as his farm is 40 minutes away, it's not a deal-breaker.

The Cybertruck, introduced by Tesla's Elon Musk in 2019, is an electric pickup truck "built for any adventure." ^2 While there have been some recalls, Smith enjoys the unique vehicle, especially its speed and smooth ride on dirt roads. He predicts other farmers may follow suit, especially as Tesla releases more affordable models.