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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Two Fatal Buggy Crashes Happened On Back-to-Back Days (Ohio & Michigan)

Two Fatal Buggy Crashes Happened On Back-to-Back Days (Ohio & Michigan)

Sadly, after a calm period of some weeks as far as buggy accidents, two fatal crashes occurred on back-to-back days, in Michigan and Ohio. In the first, a 39-year-old Amish mother was killed in Branch County, Michigan when the horse was “spooked” by an oncoming vehicle: ALGANSEE TOWNSHIP, MI (WTVB) – A Reading, Michigan woman was killed and six other family members were injured Friday…

700 Amish & Mennonites Singing On A Cruise Ship (Video)

700 Amish & Mennonites Singing On A Cruise Ship (Video)

This is not your typical Amish singing video. What we see here is something called the Sail & Sing Christian Cruise. It’s a tour company based out of New Holland, PA. So what are Amish doing on a cruise ship, you might be wondering? For those who wish to visit Europe (or anywhere overseas), ship travel is the only option sanctioned by many Amish churches…

Notice: Amish & Mennonite Church Meetings Shouldn’t Be Blamed For COVID Spread

Notice: Amish & Mennonite Church Meetings Shouldn’t Be Blamed For COVID Spread

Amish have been regularly faulted for failing to follow COVID regulations – going back to early on in the pandemic experience. Now, a public health body in Canada says local Plain groups are in fact complying with COVID regulations regarding church gatherings. This, despite apparent complaints from non-Plain neighbors. Farming in an Ontario Old Order Mennonite community Grey Bruce Health Unit has just issued a…

Lehman’s Is Getting A New Owner (Updated)

Lehman’s Is Getting A New Owner (Updated)

Lehman’s is a well-known business catering to Amish and – even more so – to non-Amish who like off-the-grid and low-tech tools and home products. Many readers here are familiar with it – we’ve had posts including 5 Interesting Facts About Lehman’s and 6 Lehman’s Products Used By The Amish. So I thought it might be of interest to share that Lehman’s is being sold:…

Visiting An Old Order Mennonite Horse Auction – And Casket Shop (22 Photos)

Visiting An Old Order Mennonite Horse Auction – And Casket Shop (22 Photos)

Jim Halverson shares a visit he made back in the fall to the Wakarusa area of northern Indiana. This town lying north of Nappanee is in the vicinity of a small Old Order Mennonite community. Jim made two interesting stops while in the area, as you’ll see below. Instead of trick-or-treating on Halloween, I attended the Wakarusa Driving Horse Auction. Wakarusa is about 15 miles…

Do The Amish Practice Communism?

Do The Amish Practice Communism?

Writing in to the Finger Lakes Times in early December, a reader made the following claim as part of a review of communism and socialism through history: The only form of communism today that is the same from several hundred years ago is the Amish. Yes, they practice a true form of communism right here in the USA! Last week a reader named Ivan Martin…

Police Report: Amishman Followed By Truck, Harassed In Maine Community

Police Report: Amishman Followed By Truck, Harassed In Maine Community

I came across a police report about an Amish man being harassed in the community of Sherman, Maine. The Amish are targets of harassment in some places. In some cases the harassment goes well beyond what we might think of as a simple prank. The topic has been the subject of an academic paper, as well as several posts here on serious incidents – cases…

Slice of Amish Life: Cold Homemade Root Beer

Slice of Amish Life: Cold Homemade Root Beer

I am sure some of you are going to recognize this sign today. I would even call it semi-famous at this point by virtue of it being photographed so much due to its location. The sign is an advertisement for a long-running root beer business at an Amish farm just outside Intercourse, Pennsylvania, the heart of tourism in the country’s most-visited Amish settlement. If you’ve…

Look Inside a Lovely Amish Farm Home (29 Photos)

Look Inside a Lovely Amish Farm Home (29 Photos)

Reader Jerry brought to my attention a silent auction concluding today in Millersburg, PA, of an Amish-owned organic dairy farm. They’ve provided quite a few photos from inside the home, and of the property, which you can see below. These are some of the better photos I’ve seen of an Amish home and property. Jerry writes that “These Amish are a spin off of the…

Delaware Market Shut Down; Amish Faulted

Delaware Market Shut Down; Amish Faulted

Spence’s Bazaar is a flea market/farmer’s market in Dover, Delaware. The market has a significant Amish presence including some popular food outlets. This is a nice account of the place, which has an 85+ year history. Image: Spence’s Bazaar Delaware State News now reports that they have been shut down temporarily, and you get one guess what it has to do with: DOVER — The…