Rusty graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1999 with a Bachelors of Music in jazz studies. He has studied with Clarence Seay, Mark Bernat, Paul Langosch, Victor Dvoskin, Doug Richards and Paul Bedell. While at V.C.U. Rusty, along with John Patykula, Charlie Mosser and Kevin Harding, gave a master class and performed concerts in Peru, South America. He played in the musical "Blues in the Night" at the Barksdale Theater. He has played with Stephanie Nakasian and Hod O’Brien, Harry Allen, Skip Gailes, John D’earth, Bob Hallahan and others. He currently plays with John Winn, The Pete Anderson Sextet, Penn Farmer Trio, Used Carlotta and performs with his own group, The Rusty Farmer Group. Rusty also gives private electric bass guitar and acoustic bass instruction, as well as jazz theory and improvisation.