What's the dirtiest job in Hollister? Manure manufacturer? Worm farmer? Taxidermist?
If you ask Mike Rowe of the hit Discovery Channel show "Dirty Jobs" - the dirtiest job in Hollister is dog food maker.
Rowe and his camera and production crew filmed for an episode of "Dirty Jobs" on Wednesday at Green Tripe, a local dog food factory that produces raw products out of such parts as cow tracheas, heads and stomachs.
Rowe during the shoot Wednesday ground gullets into guck and smashed stomachs into sludge - meals that Green Tripe owners Peter and Mary Voss said dogs can't resist.
"I've seen plenty of cow organs," Rowe said. "I've birthed them, milked them, reached inside them. This job proves yet another use for the cow."
The film crew was at the Green Tripe production center - a large warehouse complex at 837 Industrial Drive - for most of the day. They drew a few curious glances from residents and more than a few excited smiles from employees.
Mike Best, a manager at AG Sod Farms in Hollister, said "Dirty Jobs" is his favorite television show. He was at Green Tripe for hours on Wednesday waiting for a chance to meet Rowe after he accidentally caught a glimpse of him while passing by the factory.
"I love his show," Best said. "When he came out (of the warehouse), I saw him and I couldn't believe it."
After the filming was done, Rowe and his crew mingled with the business owners and employees. He signed shirts, posed for photos and even bought some of the dog food. Rowe said the crew got to Hollister late Tuesday night and although he didn't get a chance to see much of the town, he had been thinking about stopping for a beer on the way out.
When it came to handling guts, however, he said the type of organ doesn't matter as whether it's rotten.
"The true benchmark for gross is not what it is - it's how long it's been in the sun," he said.
"I think in this country, we've made work the enemy. Traditional jobs are going the way of the microchip. Our show has always been a general celebration of work."
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