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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New From Ben & Rose: “Will You Travel Down This Road With Me?”

New From Ben & Rose: “Will You Travel Down This Road With Me?”

Ben & Rose have their latest new song out, a cover of “Will You Travel Down This Road With Me?” We’ve been getting a nice steady stream of about one new song per month. At this pace they are basically putting out a new album’s worth every year (which makes me wonder if another is in the works?) This is their first studio release since…

7-Month-Old Amish Girl Dies After Pony Kick During Wagon Ride (Minnesota)

7-Month-Old Amish Girl Dies After Pony Kick During Wagon Ride (Minnesota)

Just a tragic and sad story. A 7-month-old Amish girl has died after a pony kicked her in the head during a wagon ride at a home near Harmony, Minnesota. A relative of the girl reached out to let me know about it. The girl is not identified as Amish in the report, but based on what I’ve been told I can confirm this would…

Amish Woman, 22, Killed In Afternoon Buggy Wreck; Police Say Driver Was Asleep At The Wheel (Michigan)

Amish Woman, 22, Killed In Afternoon Buggy Wreck; Police Say Driver Was Asleep At The Wheel (Michigan)

Days after a wreck left two Amish women in critical condition in southern Michigan, another Amish woman is the victim in a buggy crash in the state. But this time it was a deadly incident. A 22-year-old Amish woman was killed Thursday afternoon after a vehicle struck her horse-drawn buggy in Sanilac County. Michigan State Police say the driver reportedly fell asleep at the wheel. From…

Amish Boy May Have To Testify Twice In Ohio Home Invasion Case — After Defendant Fires His Lawyer

Amish Boy May Have To Testify Twice In Ohio Home Invasion Case — After Defendant Fires His Lawyer

It’s been nearly one year since an Amish family’s home and cabinet business in Geauga County, Ohio was invaded and robbed. In it, an Amish man was brutally assaulted, and the perpetrators attempted to kidnap his young son. In a new report following a court hearing yesterday we learn that the taxi driver accused of helping plan the crime will no longer stand trial alongside…

Amish Mothers Are “Not Against The Vaccine,” Says Midwife Seeking To Give Them Measles Shots

Amish Mothers Are “Not Against The Vaccine,” Says Midwife Seeking To Give Them Measles Shots

Roberta Devers, a midwife of 38 years who serves many Amish mothers in Lancaster County, wants Pennsylvania to let midwives give the measles vaccine. But that’s something state law does not currently allow. Devers made the request in an interview with 6abc Action News published yesterday. On Monday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health announced the state has passed 1,000 measles cases this year. Lancaster County…

A Lancaster County Fire Hall Served Over 1,000 Amish Wedding Dinners In One Day

A Lancaster County Fire Hall Served Over 1,000 Amish Wedding Dinners In One Day

A Lancaster County, Pennsylvania fire station served over 1,000 Amish wedding dinners on Saturday. It was the 16th year the Intercourse Fire Company has held the fundraiser, which ran from noon until the food sold out. This was another in the long tradition of volunteer fire companies in the area, many of which have heavy Amish and Mennonite representation, funding themselves through benefit events. The…

This Mississippi Amish Farm Has 86 Acres, A Pond & Three Family Businesses (32 Photos)

This Mississippi Amish Farm Has 86 Acres, A Pond & Three Family Businesses (32 Photos)

This is our third look this year at an Amish property in the Randolph community of Pontotoc County, Mississippi. Back in April we toured a 54-acre homestead with a furniture shop, and in June we looked at another home on 45 acres. At that time, I asked whether the community might be disbanding, seeing so many homes go up for sale (four at the time)…

2 Amish Women Airlifted In Critical Condition After SUV Rear-Ends Their Buggy (Michigan)

2 Amish Women Airlifted In Critical Condition After SUV Rear-Ends Their Buggy (Michigan)

Sadly, southern Michigan has seen another bad buggy accident. Two Amish women from Montgomery, Michigan, ages 50 and 19, were airlifted from the scene after an SUV rear-ended their buggy Monday morning in Hillsdale County. Both are in critical condition. From WILX: The crash happened around 9:15 a.m. on Territorial Road near Mead Road in Camden Township, according to police. Troopers from the Jackson post…

Fire & Explosion Destroy Popular Michigan Amish Creamery

Fire & Explosion Destroy Popular Michigan Amish Creamery

Another popular Amish business has been lost to fire. A blaze and subsequent explosion on Saturday, October 3 destroyed The Farmers’ Creamery in Mio, Michigan, an Amish-owned creamery and store whose dairy products are sold in grocery stores across the state. The building is a total loss, but thankfully no major injuries were reported. Here’s what happened, via 9and10news: The Tri-Town Fire Department was dispatched…

Amish Breeder Who Killed 4 Unsold Puppies Gets 7 Years Probation, No Jail Time

Amish Breeder Who Killed 4 Unsold Puppies Gets 7 Years Probation, No Jail Time

A Lancaster County Amish dog breeder who killed four unsold Sheepadoodle puppies in 2023 has been sentenced to seven years of probation, and no jail time. John S. Stoltzfus Jr., 48, of New Holland, pleaded guilty on September 24 to four felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals and four misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals, CBS 21 reports. As noted in our first post…