Molly Swindall knew exactly what she wanted to do when she graduated from the University of Georgia last year. She wanted to be a hotdogger.
That’s the job description for a member of the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile team. Swindall, an Atlanta native who goes by the name Mayochup Molly, is in Augusta this week visiting her sister in Grovetown and bringing the Wienermobile to multiple stops along the way from May 6-9.
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“I have three weeks left,” said Swindall. “I’ve brought a lot of smiles to a lot of faces.”
Swindall said she was a little leery at first when she saw an internet post in January 2019 about the position of hotdogger.
“I didn’t think that could be a real job,” she said.
She saw it on Atlanta’s WSB-TV website and decided to research it a little more. She found out it was a real thing and that it was something she wanted to do.
The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile is in the Augusta area May 6-9. Staff photo by Charmain Z. Brackett 
Each of the six Wienermobiles has its own custom license plate. Staff photo by Charmain Z. Brackett
Swindall said she auditioned to be in an Oscar Mayer commercial when she was a little girl, but she “couldn’t cut the mustard.” The second time was the charm, and she was able “to cut the mustard” that time.
When she first heard about the hotdogger job, she still had a year left at UGA. She knew she couldn’t jump aboard the Wienermobile and travel the nation just yet. But after she graduated, she only applied for one job and was chosen to be among the 12 hotdoggers, who get a year-long contract. She’s paired with Maggie Thomas, who goes by the name of Mustard Mags.
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Hotdoggers also spend two weeks in hot dog high school, where they learn a bunch of hot dog-related puns, as well as facts about the company, she said.
Because of COVID-19, her time as a hotdogger didn’t start until July 2020. In that time she’s traveled to 20 different states with the Wienermobile.
A view inside the brightly-colored Wienermobile. Staff photo by Charmain Z. Brackett The Wienermobile’s seats are embroidered with a Wienermobile. Staff photo by Charmain Z. Brackett
The pandemic has changed the way Wienermobile visits have been set up. Typically, the Wienermobile would set up at a grocery store, she said, and people and businesses can request the visit.
“In some cities, we get hundreds of requests. In some, we get 10,” she said.
Some events are open to the public, while others are not. During the Augusta visit, the Wienermobile will visit a couple of nursing homes and a hospital. Those are not open to the public.
Swindall said she’s met some great people and made some great memories in her time on the road.
One of the more meaningful happenings was being part of a fundraiser for a boy named Liam, who has autism. The fundraiser was to purchase a therapy dog for him.
She also likes that a visit to the Wienermobile brings several generations together. People who saw the vehicle as a child are now bringing their own children to see it.
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A few facts about the Wienermobile:
The 27-foot long vehicle is specially-made. Six Wienermobiles travel the country at one time with geographical areas assigned to them. Carl Mayer created the first Wienermobile in 1936 during the Depression, to give people something to smile about, said Swindall.
Visitors to the Wienermobile get baseball-type cards with the hotdogger’s info on them, as well as a souvenir wiener whistle. They can take pictures at the vehicle, but Swindall and Thomas are the only ones allowed to drive it.
Each of the Wienermobiles has its own personalized license plate. The one Swindall and Thomas drive has a Wisconsin license plate that reads “Oh I Wish.”
On May 6, the Wienermobile will be at Rick’s Paint and Body Shop, 251 Bobby Jones Expressway from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Ked Plasma Donor Appreciation Day, 3160 Wrightsboro Rd., from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.; and Burke Perk, 618 N. Liberty St., Waynesboro, from 3 to 5 p.m..
On May 7, at Diablo’s, 1022 Walton Way from noon to 1 p.m.; at Shepeard Community Blood Center, 1533 Wrightsboro Rd., from 3 to 5 p.m.; and Recteq movie night from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
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On Saturday May 8, the Wienermobile will be at the Kiokee Kruisers Cruise-In from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at 5701 White Oak Rd., Appling; the Evans Market, 7025 Evans Town Center Blvd., from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
On Sunday, find the Wienermobile at the Augusta GreenJackets game from 12:30 to 2 p.m.; then at the Morris Museum of Art from 2:30 to 5 p.m. for the museum’s free admission Sunday.
Find Swindall @MayochupMolly on Instagram and Thomas @MustardMags.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the features editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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