Idaho
Idaho farmer goes viral after trading in his F-250 for a Cybertruck: ‘It’s really fast’
The internet can’t seem to get enough of Braden Smith’s TikTok videos of him using his Tesla Cybertruck to care for his 2,000-acre farm.
Watch: Tesla Cybertruck helps plant crops on Idaho farm
A farmer in Idaho decided to show off his Tesla Cybertruck’s capabilities, and went viral!
When farmer Braden Smith drives his Tesla Cybertruck around Idaho Falls, Idaho, he either gets a “middle finger or the thumbs up.”
“It’s insane because I really am a nice guy,” Smith, 34, told USA TODAY.
Smith, who is also an online content creator, has gone viral for an unlikely pairing: using the shiny, electric Cybertruck to care for his family-owned 2,000-acre farm full of wheat and potatoes instead of the typical heavy-duty pickup a farmer might typically prefer. His videos on TikTok have amassed millions of views, and he’s only had the vehicle since April.
“It’s been fun,” Smith said of owning the Cybertruck. “A lot of the times when I talk to people they’re very skeptical about it … you could literally weld all day with this thing and still be OK. It’s been good for around the farm.”
Trading an F-250 for a ‘stainless steel fridge’
Before buying the Cybertruck, Smith said he would trade in his pickup trucks quite often. In December 2023, when Smith was planning on trading in his F-250, he received an invite to configure a Cybertruck.
Smith said he justified the purchase due to the 50 amp style plug in the back of the Cybertruck which he uses to power his welder and plasma compressor.
“I think if you itemized down everything I wanted in a pickup for the farm, I mean this fits the majority of those wants and needs,” he said. “It was just unfortunate that it kind of looks like a stainless steel fridge.”
TikTok of cats singing Queen began Braden Smith’s virality
Smith’s initial viral TikTok post was shared in May 2021 and involved a wallpaper of cats singing Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The post has over 16 million views.
“It just kind of blew up,” Smith said about the viral TikTok in 2021. “We thought that was interesting so we decided to kind of ride it out and keep making content.”
Smith said he considered the video “pretty silly,” but when it “took off,” he began noticing how lucrative monetizing content could be.
Braden Smith did not buy the Cybertruck to ‘go green’
Smith, who drives the Cybertruck every day, said he saves a lot of fuel although he did not really buy the vehicle to “go green” or save on gas.
“I mean everybody’s saying it’s so wonderful that you’re going green and everything, and then they see that my license plate reads ‘Coal Fed,’” Smith said. “They start scratching their heads.”
A small drawback Smith has with the Cybertruck is the vehicle’s towing capabilities.
While towing things with the truck has not been a huge issue for him because he lives about 40 minutes from his farm in Rexburg, he did acknowledge that the vehicle may not be able to tow heavy stuff for longer than 150 to 200 miles.
What is the Cybertruck?
Introduced by Tesla founder Elon Musk in 2019, the Cybertruck is marketed as an electric pickup truck “built for any adventure,” according to the automotive company.
“Finally, the future will look like the future,” Musk said when he unveiled the Cybertruck during a demo in 2019.
However, the Cybetruck has had its pitfalls, as Tesla has issued several voluntary recalls since its release. The automaker recalled thousands of the trucks in June due to a windshield wiper malfunction and a trunk bed trim issue.
Other farmers may pick up on the Cybertruck
Despite the minor towing issue and perplexed looks from people in town, Smith said he enjoys the Cybertruck and the vehicle is nothing like he’s “ever driven before or had on his farm.”
“It’s really fast (and) it’s fun to drive,” he said about the Cybertruck. “I’ll be going 60 miles an hour down one of my dirt roads and it’s just gliding.”
Cyberucks could be appealing to farmers going forward, especially when Tesla comes out with more affordable and readily available models, according to Smith.
“It’s funny because you drive down the road and everybody’s like ‘so much money,’ and yet they’re also passing King Ranch’s, Denali’s and other high spec pickups, but nobody blinks an eye,” he said. “I think it’s totally possible that other people pick up on (Cybertrucks).”
BOISE, Idaho (Idaho Capital Sun) — Day use access fees at all Idaho state parks will be waived for Idaho residents on July 4 as part of a celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Gov. Brad Little announced Friday, as reported by the Idaho Capital Sun.
“As we prepare to mark 250 years of American independence, there is no better way to celebrate than by getting outside with our loved ones and enjoying the freedoms and natural treasures that define our great nation,” Little said Friday. “Idaho’s state parks showcase the very best of our state, and we are proud to welcome families, friends and visitors to explore them free of charge during this special occasion.”
While day use fees for Idaho residents will be waived, normal camping and reservation fees will apply, officials said.
Idaho has 28 state parks, which offer a variety of recreational and outdoor activities including hiking, horseback riding, skiing, bird watching, rock climbing, fishing, boating, swimming, bicycling and more.
State officials with the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation are in the process of unveiling improvements and enhancements at several state parks, including Lucky Peak State Park outside of Boise, which recently opened a new dog beach and accessible kayak launch on the Boise River.
Other state parks include Bruneau Dunes State Park and Observatory, Harriman State Park, Bear Lake State Park and City of Rocks National Reserve, which is a national reserve and state park that attracts climbers from all over the world to its dramatic granite rock spires.
Little said the July 4 fee waiver is a part of a larger effort to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence being signed in 1776.
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We’re lucky to live in a place as safe as the Treasure Valley. Despite our growth, one of the things that makes our area so special is the way that we look out for one another–for our neighbors! That’s a principle that seems to have held on as Boise has boomed.
Despite low crime rates, there seems to always be one incident or so that makes us scratch our heads.
A recent string of fraud incidents in the Treasure Valley area is one of those.
Nampa Police initially warned the public of this because cases of fraud began to ‘mushroom’. Then, it took an interesting turn–people that HAD their credit cards were being ‘taken to the bank’, so to speak.
In a statement originally released on April 30th by the Nampa Police Department, officials advised the following:
We are not sure how the suspects are gaining access to the victim’s credit cards. There is a growing fraud scheme, “ghost tapping”, that scammers are using to access victims’ credit cards. This is possibly occurring in these instances. “Ghost tapping” uses stolen credit card details in Apple Pay or Google Pay, then remotely relays the tap signal over the internet to a ‘mule’ at a store, allowing them to make high-value purchases that appear completely legitimate. (We’ll share more information on ghost tapping in a later public service announcement that will also suggest ways to protect yourself.) The app used by these criminals obscures the actual credit card number, making it harder for investigators to link a victim to a particular crime. Keep in mind that victims still have their physical credit cards while suspects use the stolen card information to make purchases, which also affects how victims are alerted. So far, local investigators have not been able to identify a common theme among the victims (e.g., a specific bank, a website they visited, a gas pump they used, etc.) in the fraud cases we are investigating.
The investigation spans far and wide.
Authorities say that some suspects are in custody, others are being contacted, and others are still at large.
Now, a week later, the police are back to reaching out to the public–this time, urging people to check their bank accounts.
Nampa Police say that they have caught onto a pattern– there are fraudulent charges at Albertson’s to purchase gift cards, at Costco to purchase Apple products, and at Best Buy, also for Apple products.
Check those bank statements!
Inside The Arrest of 3 Venezuelan Fraudsters
What on earth was happening in Eagle this week?
Gallery Credit: Credit: Mateo, 103.5 KISS FM
It’s Not Hard To See Why This Idaho Police Photoshoot Is Going Viral
The Jerome Police Department is going viral thanks to Twin Falls photographer, Layton Henderson. Once you see the hilarious photos, you’ll see why!
Gallery Credit: Chris Cardenas
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