Young Love, Hot Dogs, and Marriage: Billings Cart Owner's Sweet Story

Brady Schug wasn't looking for love when he arrived at Clydehurst Christian Ranch as a high schooler.

But summer camp has a way of sparking connections that stretch far beyond the Boulder River setting where Schug first met his now-wife, Delaney.

Today, at just 21 years old, the newlywed MSUB business student has turned his childhood camp experience into a thriving hot dog cart business that's become a familiar sight around Billings.

This isn't your typical food truck success story—it's a tale of young entrepreneurship rooted in summer camp romance and childhood memories.

Schug's path from camp counselor to cart owner began with three summers working alongside Delaney, who traveled from Oregon to work at the same camp south of Big Timber.

Their friendship blossomed slowly, taking three seasons to become "official," as Schug puts it with a grin.

"We just spent a lot of time together in a great environment," he reflects.

During those camp summers, Schug discovered his calling manning the hot dog grill during cookouts.

What started as a simple request to cook hot dogs evolved into his signature role among the high school staff who handled maintenance, yard work, and kitchen duties.

"I just got asked if I wanted to cook the hot dogs, and I did," Schug recalls.

"Then the next week when we did it, I did the hot dogs again."

The Wonderful Wiener cart stands out in Billings' growing food truck scene, which now includes 17 mobile food operations throughout the area.

While most hot dog carts steam their products, Schug insists on grilling every single dog, though he keeps them warm in a steamer afterward.

"I personally like the flavor that the grill adds to the hot dog," he explains.

"It's a nice little touch—some people even like their hot dogs burnt."

His menu features all the classics: mustard, ketchup, sweet relish, onions, sauerkraut, pepperoncini, and petite dill pickles.

But Schug's personal favorite remains the chili cheese dog with extra sauce—no shredded cheese here, just good old-fashioned cheese sauce ladled over chili.

"They're my favorite, a little messy," he admits, which is why he supplies forks and extra napkins on his cart.

The cart itself was custom-ordered with specific equipment: grill, warmers, fridge, sink, and various containers, all topped with the classic red and yellow umbrella that's become synonymous with hot dog stands.

Like other food trucks operating in Montana, Schug follows the same health and safety regulations, including mobile food facility permits and compliance standards.

The young entrepreneur dreams big—he envisions expanding the Wonderful Wiener into a multi-cart empire stationed throughout Billings.

But for now, he balances school and seasonal cart operations, keeping his mobile business running as long as weather permits.

Delaney, meanwhile, works as a unit clerk at Billings Clinic while supporting her husband's entrepreneurial ambitions.

The couple married on August 30, 2024, and recently returned to their relationship roots with a week at Clydehurst's family camp—their first visit as a married couple.

When asked if he cooked hot dogs during that nostalgic return, Schug laughs: "They asked if I wanted to cook the hot dogs, but I passed."

For Schug, the business represents more than just grilled meat and condiments—it's the manifestation of a childhood dream that happened to align perfectly with finding his life partner.

"It's a dream come true," he says simply.

"It's wonderful."