The Wienermobile offers graduating seniors experience in various media and career skills to prepare them for later work
The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile visited the University of Missouri on Jan. 29-31 to recruit students to be the next Wienermobile spokespeople, also known as Hotdoggers. While on campus, the current Hotdoggers led an informational about their positions on Feb. 4.
As Hotdoggers, students work with consumer promotions, being brand ambassadors and managing their own public relations firms for Oscar Mayer.
Hotdoggers “Mustard” Maddie Meyers and “Grillmaster” Matthew Bailey talk with Mizzou students about becoming a hotdogger in the MU Student Center on Jan. 31, 2025. Official Oscar Mayer wienermobile spokespeople, also known as Hotdoggers, spend a year traveling across different regions of America.
The Wienermobile has hired drivers for the Wienermobile and Hotdoggers for 37 years, each year hiring a student from MU, according to current Hotdogger Maddie Meyers. MU’s reputation with Oscar Mayer is part of what caught Meyers’ attention while she was a journalism student at MU.
“Something that drew me to the Wienermobile was that I would always see it every year when it would come by recruiting and giving out the ‘Wiener Whistles’ or fun stickers,” Meyers said. “It is really cool that they have such a close relationship with Mizzou, and it has been a more accessible job for those Mizzou students who are coming through because we have that tight knit relationship.”
Meyers said she gravitated towards strategic communication as she neared graduation, but enjoyed exploring various areas of journalism throughout her time in college. She said MU’s journalism program prepared her for work at the Wienermobile.
A Hot Wheels car sits on a table in the MU Student Center with other wienermobile memorabilia. From whistles to belt bags to an Airbnb, Oscar Mayer has had a wide variety of wienermobile merchandise and collaborations.
Meyers’ co-worker Matthew Bailey has learned multiple skills by being a Hotdogger, one of which being negotiation.
“Negotiation is really tough and really rewarding,” said Bailey. “When I tell people about my job that are in the workforce, [they] are like ‘That right there, that’s gonna work wonders for you.’”
By working with television, newspapers and radio stations, Bailey said his confidence in his ability to be successful and prepared for work has skyrocketed.
Hotdogger “Mustard” Maddie Meyers takes a photo of “Grillmaster” Matthew Bailey for social media. The 12 hotdoggers across the nation are responsible for creating social media content for their personal Oscar Mayer Instagram accounts.
“You’re going to work your bones off, but at the same time, you’re going to get incredible experiences and you’re going to meet incredible people,” Bailey said. “No matter what position I’m in, I feel like I have the soft skills in order to step into it.”
Hotdoggers are also given the opportunity to become more comfortable in interactive settings, such as events and working with organizations, which they said has helped them feel confident in their next career steps. Part of their efforts involves bringing “miles of smiles to millions” through work with special events across the U.S. These include charity functions such as an event for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in Dallas, Texas. Meyers said one attendee called the Wienermobile “a beacon of joy” because her father passed from cancer and had recently been diagnosed with cancer herself.
“It was nice to bring something joyful and happy to these people who have gone through so much,” Meyers said. “It’s interactions like that that make my job so special and meaningful because you think it’s something as small as driving past in the Wienermobile or having it at an event and it means so much to people.”
“Grillmaster” Matthew Bailey and “Mustard” Maddie Meyers wave as people look at and take pictures of the wienermobile. “You can’t not be happy when you’re driving a hot dog… It’s those interactions that make it. You could be having a terrible day, and you see the Wienermobile, and it just turns it all around,” Meyers said.
Meyers and Bailey said they feel ready for their next job because of the experiences the Wienermobile provided them.
“Every day is a brand new experience, and adversity will be a part of that,” Bailey said. “Regardless of whatever job I take after this, [I have] the ability to be on my feet, to be able to keep my head in the game, handle crisis situations and do it with tact, with poise and with positivity.”
The wienermobile shows off its custom “yummy” liscense plate. Only six wienermobiles travel across America at a time and are refurbished every few years.
You can visit khcmobiletour.com to track where the Wienermobile is headed next and oscarmayer.com/hotdoggers to receive Wienermobile updates.
Edited by Eric Hughes | ehughes@themaneater.com
Copy Edited by Ella McGuire and Hannah Taylor | htaylor@themaneater.com
Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com