Public Figures – Episode 4: #4 | Farmers
Hosted by: Brian Bates, Aaron Weber, and Dusty Slay
Date: February 25, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode of Public Figures, hosted by Brian, Aaron, and Dusty, is a lively and loosely structured conversation exploring the world of American farmers, agricultural life, and the cultural presence of farming. The hosts bounce between nostalgic personal anecdotes, riffs on rural America, the role of FFA (Future Farmers of America), and tangents about everything from airline seat preferences to the ethics of cannibalism (yes, seriously). Sprinkled throughout: audience comments, offbeat humor, and the musings of three comedians with deep Southern roots.
Theme: A comedic but genuine look at farming in the US, rural life, and the broader significance of agricultural culture, with detours into nostalgia, family history, and the changing times for small towns and farming communities.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Upcoming Shows and Travel Antics ([01:30]–[07:00])
- Travel Itineraries: Each host discusses their upcoming gigs and the challenges of traveling to less-connected towns for shows.
- Dusty jokes about not selling well near NYC ("...maybe judgment, they go, this is, you know, just another southern comic out here." – Dusty, [02:10]).
- Tennessee Geography and Roads: The trio riff humorously on the demise of Highway 70 due to Interstate 40, and its impact on small-town economies.
- "Interstate 40 really killed Highway 70 ... thriving communities because of Highway 70. And then Interstate 40 made it easier to travel through, but kind of killed a lot of small towns..." (Dusty, [03:31]).
- “Highway 70 runs through Lebanon, where I grew up ... and I-40 came in, I think, in the 1960s and split our family farm in half." (Brian, [04:04])
- Interstate Memories: Hosts recall family farms and the way highways, travel, and changing infrastructure shift the fate of rural America.
2. Recent Gigs and Performing for Family ([07:01]–[12:59])
- Show Recaps: Recaps of recent shows in Arlington, Houston, Dallas, and Michigan.
- Brian contemplates crowd turnout during a snowstorm in DC ("...it doesn't take people much of a reason to not come to my look and verdict... But people came out awesome. It was great." – Brian, [07:22])
- Performing for Parents: Aaron reflects on how performing bits about his family changes when they're present. ("It's just...I, like, I have a couple bits where I talk about them and I kind of had to change how I said it..." – Aaron, [12:22])
- Pressure with Loved Ones in the Audience: Dusty points out he always hopes for an especially good crowd whenever friends or family are watching.
3. Wild Uber Ride in Traverse City ([15:18]–[23:41], [20:25])
- Dusty’s Uber Adventure: Dusty details a memorable ride with a conspiracy-minded Uber driver in Traverse City, Michigan – featuring government GPS hacking, aggressive driving, and an escalating confrontation.
- “He goes, 'the government’s been hacking into my GPS'...this guy’s my hero. Typically, I’m into this sort of thing.” (Dusty, [16:51])
- “I go, 'hey, listen, I agree with you on a lot of this stuff, but you don’t need to talk to people about it when they’re trapped in your car.' He goes, 'You were never trapped in my car.'” (Dusty, [18:03])
- Reflection: Dusty contrasts theorizing in the abstract versus “haranguing” people with wild ideas. (“As a conspiracy theorist, it’s like when I see one out in the wild, you know, I’m like, nah, don’t do it like that.” [20:25])
- Laughter: Lively speculation about whether the Uber driver is "off his meds" or just having a bad day; demonstrates the group’s casual, honest southern banter.
4. Audience Comments and Banter ([29:03]–[55:01], scattered throughout)
- Olympic Sports for Everyday Life: Listeners suggest daily tasks as "Olympic sports," e.g. carrying groceries, finding the right Tupperware lid, or working the TV remote without looking.
- “Dude, if you got a family of 10, I bet I can get all your groceries in one trip.” (Aaron, [35:56])
- “I can grab any television remote...drop me in any hotel in America, and I can just...feel where the buttons are on the remote without looking.” (Aaron, [40:38])
- Helen Keller Segment: Dusty addresses mild backlash from a previous Helen Keller joke. The hosts muse on historical figures with surprising life spans (e.g., Picasso dying in the 1970s).
- "I wasn't insulting Helen Keller, but my understanding was she was born blind and deaf....how do you even know to write? And then what are you writing about?" (Dusty, [31:25])
- Comment Section Goofs: Brian fumbles some complicated listener names, turning the reading of comments into a running gag.
5. The FFA (Future Farmers of America) Spotlight ([59:40]–[91:02])
- Unboxing FFA Memorabilia ([59:40]): The crew opens a package containing a vintage FFA hat and official 1952 manual plus FFA award pins.
- FFA Culture: Brief history and significance of FFA—youth agricultural education, competitions, and the continuing legacy in rural schools.
- “Future Farmers of America. This is Future Farmers of America Week, where they celebrate future farmers.” (Brian, [63:09])
- “Promotes and supports agricultural education...became a nationwide organization 1928.” (Brian, [63:52])
- FFA Conventions: Aaron plays clips of enthusiastic teens at the national FFA convention, demonstrating the ongoing energy and pride in the program. [64:14]
- Stereotypes & Pride: Jokes about who dominates (Nebraska) and the importance of agricultural life in shaping community identity.
6. Farm Life – History, Machinery, and Rural Culture ([67:01]–[99:36])
- Personal Ties: All hosts share their family farming connections—raising cattle, childhoods near tobacco and cotton fields.
- “My dad already raises cows...so I would know a little bit about it.” (Dusty, [65:54])
- “My grandfather was a farmer. My uncle was a farmer up until his 50s. And my dad farmed a little on the side...” (Brian, [67:10])
- Farming History Tidbits:
- The Three Sisters planting system pioneered by Native Americans (corn, beans, squash) and its agricultural benefits ([82:45]).
- European settlers' lack of initial success with unfamiliar crops and how Native Americans guided them ([83:44]).
- The introduction of horses and livestock by the Spanish ([84:04]).
- Modernization: John Deere, Massey Ferguson, Kubota as the classic brands; the impact of electric or “battery-powered” equipment; the existential threat to small farms and the rise of corporate land ownership ([87:00], [89:37]).
- Nostalgia and Social Critique: Dusty advocates for more personal, family-run farming, less ornamental lawns, and more self-sufficiency. "We all should be able to live under some system where we all have our own little farm...instead of all these ornamental trees, fruit trees." (Dusty, [94:25])
- Top Five Country Songs About Farming: Dusty’s list, complete with running commentary ([95:27]–[103:22]):
- "Disappearing Farmer" – John Anderson
- "The Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn" – Alison Krauss & Union Station
- "Poor Old Dirt Farmer" – Levon Helm
- "Good Directions" – Billy Currington
- "Down on the Farm" – Tim McGraw
- Plus several honorable mentions, e.g., "High Cotton" by Alabama.
- “I mean, if you hear the song, you go, this is a country song.” (Dusty, [97:02])
- Creative Rural Observations: Dusty delivers observations blending humor and poetry, describing the visual beauty of cotton fields ([98:49]).
7. Notable Quotes and Laugh-Out-Loud Moments
- Rural Flight Patterns: "I hate the drive to Memphis from Nashville...western Tennessee is a snooze fest out there." (Aaron, [03:14])
- On Uber Ratings: "When I went to report him, he had a 4.9 rating, which was pretty good. He had been driving for nine and a half years....I think his meds just got switched or something." (Dusty, [21:03])
- Being Trapped in an Uber: “‘You were never trapped in my car.’ I go, well, you know…well, all right.” (Dusty, [18:03])
- Olympic-Level Grocery Carrying: “If you have a family of ten, I bet I can get all your groceries in one trip.” (Aaron, [35:56])
- Classic Country Wisdom: “Cigarettes are trash. It’s a clean crop, but cigarettes are trash.” (Dusty, [102:25])
- On the Demise of Small Farms: “We all should be able to live under some system where we all have our own little farm…” (Dusty, [94:25])
- Creative Riffing: “If we’re ever in a cannibal situation, you’ll probably have some pulled human sandwiches.” (Dusty, [72:19])
- Homeless Survival Plan: “I would panhandle to get a hammer. And then I would go to the back of, like, Lowe’s and Home Depot stores and I would collect pallets…and then I would build myself a bit of a clubhouse in the tree so I could get off the ground.” (Dusty, [78:10])
8. Fun with FFA Songs ([68:04],[90:14])
- Aaron and Dusty sing and parody songs from the 1952 FFA manual, injecting humor and old-timey nostalgia into the episode.
9. Audience Participation and Everyday Olympics ([104:20])
- Multiple “Olympic sport” listener submissions: zipper merging, Tupperware lid-matching, remote navigation, and the “wave” when someone lets you merge. The hosts riff on these as hallmarks of adult life, measuring everyday excellence.
Notable Timestamps
- [02:31] – Impact of highways on rural towns
- [07:01] – Recaps of recent shows and audience reactions
- [15:19] – Dusty’s “unhinged” Uber ride story
- [29:03] – Audience comments and Olympic “everyday” events
- [59:40] – FFA memorabilia unboxing and discussion
- [67:10] – Personal family farming stories
- [82:45] – Three Sisters Native American planting method
- [95:27] – Dusty’s Top 5 Country Songs About Farming
- [104:20] – More “Olympic” listener submissions and episode wrap-up
Episode Summary
“#4 | Farmers” is a perfect blend of down-home charm, satirical wit, and heartfelt nostalgia. It’s equal parts stand-up club green room, rural philosophy seminar, and grown-up sleepover. Whether reminiscing about bygone highways, celebrating small-town farm culture, or singing 70-year-old FFA anthems from a musty manual, the hosts make agriculture, everyday heroics, and even odd Uber rides relatable—and hilarious—to public figures and “common folk” alike. Their affection for rural life, skepticism toward modern trends (“Let’s start over!”), and eye-rolling at government and big business gives the episode warmth and edge.
For More:
- Share your farming/Future Farmers/FFA stories using the link in the YouTube episode description.
- Want to compete in the “Everyday Olympics”? Submit your best ideas!
- See the hosts live on tour; details at the end of the episode.