About
Hi, welcome to Amish America.
My name is Erik Wesner. No, I’m not Amish. But since 2004 I’ve been visiting Amish communities across America.
“If you want to know anything (and everything) about the Amish, this is the website for you.” – Tricia Goyer, USA Today bestselling author
Jump to: Who is Erik? | Publications & Media | Contact Info
What you’ll find here:
- Answers to 100s of questions on the Amish
- Amish communities – where are they? Amish State Guide covering 32 states & Canada
- Amish stores & businesses – where to find them
- Amish books & publications – giveaways & author interviews
- Videos sharing visits to Amish communities, explaining Amish life & beliefs
- And more
Check out the resource pages in the top menu for more.
The site also has a blog updated 2-4 times per week with news stories on the Amish, videos, beautiful images, book giveaways, and more.
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Who is Erik?
I first got to know the Amish in 2004 while selling Bible story books. Over the next several years I visited thousands (literally) of Amish homes, inspiring me to start this website in 2006 to share what I was learning.
In 2008 I was the Snowden Fellow at the Young Center for Anabaptist & Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College, where I researched Amish businesses.
In 2010 my first book, Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive was published.
In 2021 I started the Amish America YouTube channel, which grew to 50,000+ subscribers in just 18 months.
Over the past two decades I’ve frequently appeared in media on the Amish including The Guardian, Chicago Tribune, CNN Business, New York Times, and more.
I regularly visit Amish communities and stay with Amish friends, attending events like church, driving an “Amish taxi”, and experiencing Amish life.
I love visiting new communities and learning new things about the Amish. With over 600 Amish communities out there, there is always something new to learn!
You can check out my “Amish communities visited” list here (70+ communities in 17 states). Maybe you’ll see some places you know.
Erik in the media
Select media appearances:
The Guardian – “‘Our faith will be lost if we adopt technology’: can the Amish resist the modern world?”, Ian Birrell, December 15, 2018
New York Times – “In Amish Country, the Future Is Calling”, Kevin Granville & Ashley Gilbertson, September 15, 2017
USA Today – “Yes, there are cases of Amish children with autism, cancer and diabetes | Fact check”, Brieanna J. Frank, July 24, 2023
Chicago Tribune – “Living frugally and being happy the Amish way”, Gregory Karp, June 24, 2011
Philadelphia Inquirer – “Bent-and-dent Amish and Mennonite food stores are popular in hard times”, Alfred Lubrano, March 2, 2023
CBS 15 News – “Expert discusses how the LaGrange County Amish are dealing with the pandemic”, February 25, 2021
Wall Street Journal – “From Barn Raisings to Home Building”, August 15, 2008
New York Post – “60 seconds with Erik Wesner”, Brian Moore, March 22, 2010
CNN Business – “Why Amish Businesses Succeed” (video), May 4, 2010
CBS 6 News – “Expert, state police urge caution on roads following deadly buggy crashes”, October 19, 2021
MSNBC – Live interview w/Contessa Brewer, April 2, 2010
TIME magazine – “Management, Plain and Simple” by Andrea Sachs, April 8, 2010
Erik’s publications
Books
- Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive (2010), Jossey-Bass
- Who are the Amish? (2012), Verbinum
Journal publications
- “The Amish and COVID-19: A Media Survey.” The Journal of Plain Anabaptist Communities volume 1 no. 2 (2021): 57-81.
- “Amish Enterprise: The Collective Power of Ethnic Entrepreneurship,” with Donald B. Kraybill and Steven M. Nolt. Global Business and Economics Review 12, nos. 1 & 2 (2010): 3-20.
- “Sources of Enterprise Success in Amish Communities,” with Donald B. Kraybill and Steven M. Nolt. The Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy 5, no. 2 (2011): 112-30.
Contact
Email: ewesner@gmail.com (inquiring about something? Please first check what I can’t help with)
Question on the Amish? Please check the FAQ with 300+ questions answered, or leave it in the comments section. If I can’t answer it there, someone else might be able to!
Media inquiry? Feel free to drop me an email, I often help with articles on the Amish and other media.
Want to contribute? We often run guest posts. Please send photos, info, etc. to the email address above.
Advertising: Advertising and consulting inquiries welcome. We offer website and newsletter ads, and over the years have successfully advertised products including foods, furniture, books, and other products & services.
Note: If you’re trying to reach Amish readers with your ad, the best option is probably an Amish-read paper publication like the Sugarcreek Budget, Connection magazine, or other publications – not this website. We do have some Amish readers, but our overall readership is 95%+ non-Amish.
Want to support this site? Consider joining the Amish America Patreon for exclusive content, including the Ben & Erik show.
What I can’t do:
- I can’t help with Amish pen pal requests (but read this for more)
- I can’t help with Amish lodging requests (but check here for ideas)
- I can’t help market health supplements or other products to Amish communities (try an Amish-read publication like The Budget)
- I can’t help make business connections within the Amish for your business or product
- I can’t provide detailed info on specific Amish businesses in your area like tree removal, carpenters, or other business types (please try the Amish business directory or an online search; Amish places will often be listed in Google)
- I can’t help you join the Amish (but read here for more insights)
Sorry, due to the volume of requests, I’m not able to help with or respond to these inquiries. But please check the linked resources. I hope the info there helps you!
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