Dirty Jobs: 21 of Idaho’s Filthiest, Most Thankless Positions

Mike Rowe, the Working Man's Best Friend

Mike Rowe is a television host and narrator known for his work on popular shows like "Dirty Jobs" and "Somebody's Gotta Do It."

When he first stepped into the limelight of the small screen, Rowe had all the makings of a major Hollywood celebrity. Yet he was compelled to highlight the most unusual, unsavory, and quite often the dirtiest jobs in the nation.

Because he did so with cheeky humor, humility, and a positive attitude, he skyrocketed to fame in American households.

One episode after the next, Rowe took on a variety of odd and filthy professions. From working with raw sewage in treatment plants to handling animal waste or engaging in hazardous tasks, the TV host tackled every dirty job he could find.

I can say the willingness to get dirty has always defined us as a nation, and it's a hallmark of hard work and a hallmark of fun, and dirt is not the enemy.
-Mike Rowe, Dirty Jobs

He was a one-man tour-de-force shedding light on the importance of overlooked and typically thankless jobs. He also highlighted the value of hard work and the people who do the jobs that many others might find unappealing but are essential to our daily lives.

The Time Mike Rowe Brought Dirty Jobs to Boise

When Mike Rowe got wind of how exquisitely dirty locomotive repairs were, he brought the Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs to Boise (in the clip below).

It was 2009 and the show's 200th task!

Rowe took to the task of building, cleaning, and restoring trains. During his "apprenticeship," he used a forklift to remove soot residue, he scraped away old sludge, and even refurbished the engine. We might be biased, but this one remains are favorite in the shows 179 episode run!

In honor of every Idahoan who does the dirty jobs most of us could never do, we're highlighting 21 of Idaho's filthiest and thankless professions in the gallery below!

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