The Budget Newspaper Celebrates 135 Years; 400 Attend “Scribe Gathering”

There is a nice write-up in Anabaptist World about the Budget newspaper’s recent 135-year anniversary (hat-tip to Al in KY), as well as the “Scribe Gathering” – regular meet-ups of the papers writers – which took place the next day.

Based in Sugarcreek, Ohio, the Budget was founded way back in 1890 – and has endured as a media institution in Plain America and beyond.

Budget Publisher Milo Miller has kindly sent photos along from the gathering, which you’ll see in this post. From the article:

On August 1, The Budget celebrated 135 years of publishing with an open house at its office in Sugarcreek, Ohio. The following day, Budget scribes met at the Heritage Community Center in Millersburg, Ohio. About 400 people attended the scribe gathering. Over the course of two days, thousands came to celebrate The Budget.

The Budget is a newspaper read and written by members of Plain Anabaptist groups across the Americas and around the world.

The writers, called scribes, send in letters that are published in the newspaper. The Budget has about 3,000 scribes [ed. note: the number of scribes is actually about 1,150], 20,000 subscribers and an estimated 50,000 readers.

“It’s been 10 years since our last [scribe] gathering and I think a lot has changed, not necessarily in our community but a lot in the world,” said Milo Miller, publisher of The Budget at the scribe gathering.

As noted, “scribes” are the correspondence letter-writers who regularly pen reports from their home communities – covering everything from church events to accidents to the weather to visitors and more.

They make up the meat of this widely-read Plain publication; their correspondence is a way to “keep in touch” across distance for people like the Amish and Plain Mennonites, who do not use the latest communication technologies.

At the event, Budget president David Spector shared about his family’s history and involvement with the newspaper:

David Spector, president of The Budget, also spoke. He shared the story of how his family came to own the paper, asking first how many knew his father, the late Albert Spector.

“In 1981, my father purchased The Budget,” he said. “His business was and still is selling primarily fabrics and other merchandise to the Plain communities across the United States. The Budget is the way he got that out to everyone. When The Budget found itself in financial difficulty, he purchased it, knowing nothing about newspapers.”

He told his family story, which involved his Jewish grandfather Michael arriving in America in 1920, and making his way to the New Wilmington, PA Amish community, having heard they spoke a language similar to his.

Michael Spector later opened a store in Mt. Eaton in 1937 (you may recognize the Spector’s name on a number of popular Plain fabrics stores). He placed an ad for his business in the Budget that same year.

Spector praised the scribes, saying, “So, 88 years later, my family is blessed to be here, celebrating with you. The Budget exists because of those of you who write the letters.”

Many Budget scribes enjoy meeting up, and seeing the face on the other side of the byline. In true Amish fashion, they put together large gatherings happening periodically.

The paper’s anniversary was a perfect reason to get together this year, and the event drew scribes from far and wide. Here are a few interesting facts about the attendees:

Miller also dedicated time to honoring attendees who have helped The Budget in various ways. Other honors and superlatives were presented during the meeting, including:

• The longest-writing and oldest scribe present was Emma Schlabach of Sugarcreek, Ohio, who has written for The Budget for 71 years. She is 89.
• The youngest-writing scribe present was Geneva Ruth Miller, of Greenville, Pa., who is 14 years old.
• The farthest-traveled scribe present was Bill Miller of Modesto, Calif., who traveled 2,477 miles to come to the event. A close second were Roy and Mary Kropf of Rochester, Wash., who logged 2,476.5 miles.

For more on the Budget, check out this profile on the paper, or this interview with Publisher Milo Miller. And if you’d like to order the paper, see the info below.

How to Subscribe to The Budget

The easiest method for ordering The Budget and/or Who is Who in The Budget Volume III is by calling The Budget: 330.852.4634. They accept all major credit cards.

The Budget is $68 for a year (52 issues) or $132 for two years (104 issues). – (UPDATED 2025 PRICES)

Mail orders are also welcome for The Budget. Please make checks payable to The Budget and mail to: The Budget, PO Box 249, Sugarcreek, Ohio 44681.

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