Wienermobile a happy hit as part of Rodhe’s 90th celebration
The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile found a parking spot at Rodhe’s Marketplace, where the Millersburg second-grade class of Melissa Bluck enjoyed a visit.
Over the years Rodhe’s Marketplace has been a popular place to shop, but recently, patrons had to search long and hard to find a parking spot when a special visit from a national treasure stopped by to greet the public.
The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile rolled into Millersburg on Friday, Sept. 27, and drivers Sarah Oney, also known by her hotdogger name of Sarah Kraut, and Stephen Harrison, aka Sizzlin’ Stephen, put smiles on the faces of everyone who stopped by to view this nationally renowned vehicle that looks like a giant hot dog in a bun as it drives around the country.
The Wienermobile was visiting to celebrate Rodhe’s Marketplace’s 90th anniversary. In addition, Rodhe’s staff was churning out hot dog meals for 90 cents, and there was a wild bingo game going on in the big tent beside the Wienermobile.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen the parking lot that full, ever,” Rodhe’s owner Kurt Rodhe said.
Oney said they were honored to be part of Rodhe’s 90th anniversary celebration, and the duo travels around the U.S. making stops to unite with fans.
According to Harrison, they have a one-year commitment, traveling from June through June during 2024-25. They will travel through one section of the country for six months and then move to another portion of the nation for the second half of their tour, switching partners with another member of the dozen employees of the six Wienermobiles that travel the U.S. promoting Oscar Mayer.
“We make stops at celebrations like this. We do festivals, parades, grocery stores and other events,” Harrison said.
The two are part of the 12-member team that was chosen out of more than 7,500 applicants for the year.
According to Oney, who hails from Atlanta, Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia, becoming a hotdogger boils down to one thing.
“You’ve got to be one lucky dog,” she said.
Actually, she said applications are sent into Oscar Mayer in January, and they go through a rigorous interview process that leads up to one final interview where they are flown out to Oscar Mayer headquarters.
“That’s where you really find out if you cut the mustard,” Oney said.
Harrison, a Pennsylvania native who graduated from Boston College University, said applicants must express an attitude of adventure, be outgoing, have a taste for travel and have a bachelor’s degree.
“I found out about this opportunity because it was on the national news on ‘Good Morning America,’ but they advertise at a lot of colleges around the nation,” Harrison said.
Neither hotdogger had ever been to Holmes County prior to this, and Oney said it was a special area and they loved the scenery and the people.
“Being here, I feel like I’ve experienced a unique culture, and I’ve learned so much in a short time,” Harrison said.
“We really like small towns because people invite you in and are so welcoming,” Oney said. “This is very different from Georgia in a good way. People are eager to invite you into their community and share their hospitality, and this was wonderful being here.”
The questions from stop to stop are all similar, the top ones being “do they sell hot dogs” and “what’s inside the Wienermobile.”
The answer to those are “no” and “storage in the back.” There are no sleeping quarters and no bathroom in the vehicle.
“It’s not a weenie-bego,” Harrison said.
One thing the Wienermobile does have inside is thousands of tiny Oscar Mayer Wienermobile whistles, something everyone seemed eager to receive.
The Millersburg Elementary second-grade classes paid a visit, and each student received a whistle.
“These kids couldn’t wait to get down here,” teacher Nate Wade said. “It’s all they’ve talked about, and they love all of the excitement surrounding this visit. It’s definitely put smiles on their faces.”
Local Millersburg resident Sarah Hogue and her daughter Kaden were excited to experience this phenomenon.
“I’ve loved this since I was a little girl,” Hogue said. “It’s iconic, and when I found out it was going to be here, I knew we had to come. I had a whistle when I was little, and I lost it, so I’m thrilled to get a new one.”
That was the sentiment for most people who stopped in to visit, and the hotdoggers put smiles on faces while the Rodhe’s crew put hot dogs in the stomachs of those who stopped by to take in the celebration.