Author: Erik Wesner

Erik Wesner is the creator of amishamerica.com, and author of Success Made Simple: An Inside Look At Why Amish Businesses Thrive. Erik began visiting Amish communities in 2004 – eventually meeting thousands of Amish families while selling books.

He began writing about the Amish on this website in 2006, and is often cited in national media, including USA Today, The New York Times, and others on a wide range of Amish topics. A native of North Carolina, Erik has visited dozens of Amish communities across the country, and loves spending time with Amish friends and discovering new Amish places.

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Lovina Eicher: Dating In My Amish Community “Not Like” How Lovina Zook Describes It

Lovina Eicher: Dating In My Amish Community “Not Like” How Lovina Zook Describes It

There are currently two quite well-known Lovinas of an Amish background. Lovina Zook grew up Swartzentruber Amish before leaving the community several years ago. She has since become a social media star for her videos sharing Amish-style cooking recipes (and I’d say for her on-screen persona maybe just as much). We had a look at her online influencer career here several weeks ago. But well…

Amish Family Of 7 Out Of The Hospital After Crash — They Came Home With 3 Wheelchairs

Amish Family Of 7 Out Of The Hospital After Crash — They Came Home With 3 Wheelchairs

Some good news out of the Clarita, Oklahoma Amish community. All seven members of an Amish family – the Schrocks – injured in a September 6 buggy crash have been released from the hospital. Clarita Volunteer Fire Department Chief Frank Williams told the Ada News that the last hospitalized child returned home Thursday, September 17 – 11 days after the wreck. The buggy was carrying…

Amish May Sue Minnesota County Over $50 Paper Filing Fee. Their Lawyers Claim They’ve Faced Arrest Warrants & Jailing

Amish May Sue Minnesota County Over $50 Paper Filing Fee. Their Lawyers Claim They’ve Faced Arrest Warrants & Jailing

Two Amish communities in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota say the county’s building permit rules discriminate against their religious beliefs — and they’re threatening to sue if it isn’t fixed. The complaint centers on one thing: the county moved its building permit system online. Old Order Amish generally don’t use computers, for religious reasons. There is now a way for them to file using paper –…

Driver Flees After Hitting Amish Buggy & Injuring 4 Children (Wisconsin)

Driver Flees After Hitting Amish Buggy & Injuring 4 Children (Wisconsin)

Four Amish children were injured Thursday afternoon when a motor vehicle attempting to pass their buggy hit it as it turned. The driver then decided to keep driving, leaving the scene. However, he or she was later arrested. The crash occurred in the Town of Buffalo in Marquette County, Wisconsin. From the Marquette County Sheriff’s Office statement: At approximately 3:44 p.m. today, September 17, 2026,…

3-Year-Old Run Over By Forklift In Lancaster County — A Day After Teen Died In Wagon Fall

3-Year-Old Run Over By Forklift In Lancaster County — A Day After Teen Died In Wagon Fall

A three-year-old boy died Tuesday after being run over by a forklift at the Lancaster County farm where he lived – one day after a 16-year-old was killed in a fall from a horse-drawn wagon in the same township (Leacock). From LNP | LancasterOnline: A 3-year-old boy died Tuesday morning when he was run over by a forklift at the Leacock Township farm where he…

Scenes From A Firehouse Fish Fry That Drew Hundreds Of Amish (14 Photos)

Scenes From A Firehouse Fish Fry That Drew Hundreds Of Amish (14 Photos)

Jim Halverson checks back in with some scenes from an Amish fish fry that took place last weekend in Topeka, Indiana. I’m calling it an “Amish” fish fry here – for reasons that should be apparent – but officially, it was the Topeka Fire Department Fish Fry & Bake Sale. This is a heavily-Amish area, and so it makes sense that most of those in…

Amish Retreat Leader Sam Shetler Denied Bond Again — Judge Cites “Danger To Witnesses”

Amish Retreat Leader Sam Shetler Denied Bond Again — Judge Cites “Danger To Witnesses”

Amish retreat leader Sam Shetler has again been denied bond — with the judge citing the potential danger to witnesses and alleged victims. The ruling means that despite his legal team’s efforts, the 43-year-old Amishman will remain behind bars for now. This is the latest development in a case we’ve been following since Shetler’s arrest in late March. If you’re new to the story, Shetler…

This Amish Shop Went From One Hay Wagon In 1994 To 22,000 Square Feet

This Amish Shop Went From One Hay Wagon In 1994 To 22,000 Square Feet

In today’s guest post, Fred Hendricks shares a closer look at Weaver Wagons, an Ohio Amish-owned wagon and carriage business. Ervin Weaver could not have envisioned the success of this venture when he built the first wagon in 1994 – simple, but quality flatbed to haul hay. Ervin and his family operated a medium sized dairy farm along with other livestock near Dalton, Ohio. The…

16-Year-Old Killed In Fall From Wagon While Harvesting Corn (Lancaster County)

16-Year-Old Killed In Fall From Wagon While Harvesting Corn (Lancaster County)

Another tragic farm accident in Amish Country. A sixteen-year-old boy lost his life Monday afternoon in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, after falling from a horse-drawn wagon during the corn harvest. From LNP | LancasterOnline: A 16-year-old boy died Monday after falling from a horse-drawn wagon while harvesting corn in Leacock Township, according to the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office. Alvin Petersheim, of Paradise Township, died of multiple…

2 Killed After Pickup Truck Hits Amish Buggy In Upstate New York

2 Killed After Pickup Truck Hits Amish Buggy In Upstate New York

Two people were killed and several others seriously hurt Sunday afternoon when a pickup truck and an Amish buggy collided in the town of Canton in St. Lawrence County, New York. The St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office initially reported one death, then raised the count to two Sunday night. According to WWNY 7 News, the crash happened around 3 p.m. Sunday on County Route 25…