
The chicken farmer's daughter joke is a well-known trope in joke-telling, often involving a travelling salesman whose car breaks down and who is offered shelter by the farmer, on the condition that he does not touch his daughter. The joke usually revolves around the seduction of the daughter by the salesman, and the farmer's reaction. The joke has been around for a long time, with variations in different cultures, and has even inspired a song by Bob Dylan.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Joke Premise | A travelling salesman's car breaks down and he seeks shelter at a farmhouse |
| Farmer's Offer | The farmer offers the salesman a place to stay, but only if he doesn't touch his daughter |
| Daughter's Character | Naive, desirable, and promiscuous |
| Joke Variations | The daughter may be portrayed as extremely unattractive or as a knockout; the setting may be a barn, pasture, or chicken coop |
| Joke Outcome | The salesman attempts or succeeds in seducing the daughter, with various humorous consequences |
| Joke Popularity | The "farmer's daughter" jokes were once popular but are now considered old and hackneyed |
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What You'll Learn

The joke's premise and its variations
The "farmer's daughter" is a stock character and stereotype in fiction for the daughter of a farmer, who is often portrayed as a desirable and naive young woman. The character has often been the basis for a series of jokes, known as "farmer's daughter jokes", which are usually sexual in nature. The jokes revolve around the seduction of the farmer's daughter by a stock character, such as a travelling salesman or a peddler.
In one variation of the joke, a travelling salesman's car breaks down in a remote rural area, and he seeks shelter at a farmhouse. The farmer agrees to let him stay the night but tells him that he will have to sleep in the barn, pasture, or chicken coop, or share a room with his daughter. In most jokes, the daughter is portrayed as a naive but desirable young woman, and the salesman tries to seduce her or has sex with her, only to be caught by the farmer.
Another variation of the joke involves the farmer's daughter being portrayed as extremely unattractive, rather than desirable. In this version, the joke may involve the salesman's comedic attempts to avoid sleeping with the daughter, despite the farmer's insistence.
The "farmer's daughter" jokes are often elaborate and require some skill to tell effectively, including the ability to mimic different voices and switch between them easily. They have been around for a long time, with some jokes traced back to at least 1900, and they are particularly prominent in American humour, especially in the Ozark subculture.
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The farmer's daughter as a stock character
The farmer's daughter is a stock character and stereotype in fiction for the daughter of a farmer. She is often portrayed as a desirable and naive young woman, described as being an "open-air type" and "public-spirited". The character has been depicted in various forms of media, including literature, film, television, and music.
In literature, the farmer's daughter appears in medieval French stories, where she is portrayed as being physically ill by the mention of vulgarisms. In these stories, the farmer's daughter and her father's farmhand create euphemisms for sexual acts, with the farmer's daughter ultimately instructing the farmhand to "water his horse in her spring". This story portrays the farmer's daughter as naive and inexperienced in sexual matters, a trait that has become associated with the stock character.
In film and television, the farmer's daughter has appeared in productions such as the 1947 film "The Farmer's Daughter" and its subsequent adaptations and remake. The character has also been featured in popular television series such as "Petticoat Junction", "Gilligan's Island", "The Dukes of Hazzard", and "The Beverly Hillbillies". In these portrayals, the farmer's daughter is often depicted as a desirable and naive young woman, reflecting the characteristics of the stock character.
The farmer's daughter has also been a source of inspiration for musicians and has appeared in various songs and musical references. For example, the song "Farmer's Daughter" by Rodney Atkins and "California Girls" by The Beach Boys reference the Midwest farmer's daughter. Additionally, Bob Dylan's "Motorpsycho Nightmare" is built around the "Farmers Daughter Plot" crossed with psycho.
In addition to her naive and desirable nature, the farmer's daughter is often characterized by her desire to leave the farm and explore urban life. This aspect of the character has been noted in various accounts, highlighting the tension between the farmer's daughter's rural upbringing and her aspirations for a different lifestyle.
Overall, the farmer's daughter as a stock character has been a prominent figure in fiction and popular culture, often serving as a symbol of naive desire and the exploration of urban life beyond the confines of the rural farm setting.
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The joke's sexual nature
"Farmer's daughter" jokes are a series of jokes that tend to be sexual in nature and focus on acts of promiscuity. The jokes usually revolve around a travelling salesman whose car breaks down in a remote rural area, and he is offered shelter by a farmer, with the condition that he must sleep in the barn or with the farmer's daughter. The farmer's daughter is often portrayed as a desirable and naive young woman, and the jokes typically involve the seduction of the daughter by the salesman or another male character.
In one variation of the joke, the farmer builds a wall of eggs between the beds of the salesman and his daughter, intending to catch the salesman if he tries to break through. However, the salesman and the daughter end up giving in to their desires and spend a passionate night together. The next morning, the farmer finds all the eggs broken and empty, and he suspects that one of his roosters is using a condom.
Another variation of the joke involves the farmer's daughter being portrayed as extremely innocent and naive about sexual matters. In this version, the daughter is physically ill at the mention of vulgarities, so she and a farmhand create euphemisms, referring to his penis as a horse and her vagina as a spring. Despite her apparent innocence, she eventually instructs him to water his horse in her spring, implying that she is willing to engage in sexual acts despite her discomfort with explicit language.
The "farmer's daughter" jokes are known for being elaborate and requiring skill from the storyteller. They are often told with different voices and accents to add to the humour. While these jokes are less commonly told today, they were once a staple for those who enjoyed ribald humour and could be found in comic books and other forms of media.
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The joke's elaborate nature
Farmer's daughter jokes are known for their elaborate nature. They are not quick two-liners, but rather intricate stories with a range of characters and plot points. The jokes typically involve a travelling salesman whose car breaks down, forcing him to seek shelter at a farmhouse. The farmer offers the salesman a place to stay, often in the barn or chicken coop, but sometimes in the daughter's bed. The daughter is usually portrayed as a desirable and naive young woman, and the jokes often involve sexual themes and acts of promiscuity.
In one variation of the joke, the farmer builds a wall of eggs between the salesman and his daughter's beds, warning the salesman that he will kill him if he touches her. However, the salesman cannot control himself and breaks through the eggs to spend the night with the daughter. The next morning, the farmer finds all the eggs broken and empty, and suspects that one of his roosters is using a condom.
Another version of the joke involves the salesman and the daughter sneaking off to the barn to spend the night together. The daughter returns to the house with her clothes askew, and when the salesman leaves the next morning, she breaks into tears, revealing that they had made passionate love. The farmer chases after the salesman, shotgun in hand, only to be met with a witty retort.
The jokes often play on the daughter's naiveté and lack of knowledge about sex, due to her upbringing focused on manual labor rather than socialization. The punchline often revolves around the seduction of the daughter by the salesman or another stock character, and the unexpected consequences that arise from the daughter's innocence.
The elaborate nature of farmer's daughter jokes allows for endless variations and creativity in the storytelling. The success of the joke often depends on the skill of the storyteller, including their ability to mimic different voices and switch between them easily.
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The joke's popularity and references in media
The "chicken farmer's daughter" joke is a variation of the "farmer's daughter" joke, which has been popular for centuries. The joke revolves around a travelling salesman whose car breaks down and who is offered lodging in the chicken coop or barn by the farmer, on the condition that he does not touch his daughter. The joke usually involves the seduction of the daughter by the salesman, and the farmer's discovery of the act. The "farmer's daughter" is a stock character and stereotype in fiction, often portrayed as a desirable and naive young woman.
The joke has been referenced in various media over the years. It appeared in a medieval French story, where the farmer's daughter was physically ill at the mention of vulgarisms, so she and the farmhand created euphemisms for their genitalia. However, she eventually instructed him to "water his horse in her spring", implying her willingness to engage in the act despite her aversion to vulgar language.
In the 18th century, the character of the farmer's daughter was referenced in a British House of Commons debate, where politician Robert Nugent used the character to argue for the right of people to marry outside their class. The character has also appeared in popular mainstream media productions, including the sitcom "Petticoat Junction", which featured three daughters of a farmer: Betty Jo, Bobbie Jo, and Billie Jo.
The joke has also been referenced in more modern times, with Norm MacDonald and Seinfeld riffing on it, and Bob Dylan even writing a song about it. Despite its popularity, the joke is often treated as old and hackneyed, with even older instances treating it as a tired premise.
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Frequently asked questions
The joke usually revolves around a travelling salesman whose car breaks down and is offered shelter by the farmer, with the stipulation that he must sleep in the chicken coop or the daughter's bed. The daughter is often portrayed as naive and attractive, and the joke typically involves sexual innuendos or promiscuous acts between the salesman and the daughter.
The punchline of these jokes typically revolves around the sexual encounter between the salesman and the farmer's daughter, often with a twist that involves the farmer catching them or finding out about their tryst.
"Chicken farmer's daughter" jokes have been around for a long time, with some variations dating back to at least 1900. They are known for being elaborate and requiring skill in storytelling, making them memorable and entertaining for audiences who enjoy ribald humour.











































