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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Ben & Rose: “Hold Fast To The Right” (Full Song)

Ben & Rose: “Hold Fast To The Right” (Full Song)

Not quite a month ago, we got Ben and Rose’s short preview version of “Hold Fast to the Right”, a 120-year-old hymn. About that, one commenter wrote “I have not hear this song in 70+ years—what a joy to now hear it again!” Now the duo have just today released the full studio version. So this is happy news not only for that commenter, but…

Amish Mother Ruth Miller Committed To Psychiatric Hospital In Son’s Drowning Case

Amish Mother Ruth Miller Committed To Psychiatric Hospital In Son’s Drowning Case

Ruth Miller appeared in court as scheduled today following last week’s not guilty by reason of insanity verdict in the drowning death of her 4-year-old son, Vincen. Having reviewed the expert reports and testimony, Judge Michael Ernest decided Miller’s placement in a mental health facility near Miller’s home community. From WKYC: NEW PHILADELPHIA, Ohio — Ruth Miller, the Amish mother recently found not guilty by…

Horse Killed After Amish Buggy Crash Sends It Into Traffic

Horse Killed After Amish Buggy Crash Sends It Into Traffic

Very sad for this horse, though fortunately the Amish woman driving the buggy was not injured. This happened Monday in the New Wilmington, Pennsylvania Amish community. From NCNewsonline: A New Wilmington man has been cited for his involvement in a three-vehicle accident that involved an Amish horse and buggy in Wilmington Township on Monday. The collision reportedly occurred around 6:50 a.m. on Route 208 near…

Amish Instagram Influencer “Melanskia” Isn’t Real — But 300,000 People Follow Her Health Advice

Amish Instagram Influencer “Melanskia” Isn’t Real — But 300,000 People Follow Her Health Advice

The Amish woman you see in the above Instagram screen-grab is not real. But you’d be forgiven for thinking that she is. That’s how effective AI video-generation has gotten in a relatively fast time. Some profitable businesses have been created around AI personas. “Melanskia” is one of them. An article in the New York Times sheds some light on who is behind Melanskia. From the…

After Fire Destroys Idaho Amish Family’s Market, Dozens Show Up The Next Morning To Help

After Fire Destroys Idaho Amish Family’s Market, Dozens Show Up The Next Morning To Help

Two weeks after a devastating fire that wiped out a beloved Idaho Amish market, there is some good news. As expected, the community has rallied behind the Amish owners, the Paul Miller family. East Idaho News reports on the cleanup efforts, and shares some words from Paul and the Baker Country Market in Lemhi County. Cleanup began the very next day: Paul Miller owned the…

10 Bedrooms, No Bathrooms: Inside A $1.5 Million Amish Farmstead (47 Photos)

10 Bedrooms, No Bathrooms: Inside A $1.5 Million Amish Farmstead (47 Photos)

We recently looked at an eight-bedroom Amish home with just one bathroom – which I imagine many found to be an extreme bedroom-to-bathroom ratio. But this Owingsville, Kentucky Amish property one-ups that one – having a whopping 10 bedrooms – but no bathroom whatsoever (outhouse is what they’d use). There are one or two caveats here – the bedroom count includes the main house, as…

Amish Man, 30, Killed Riding E-Bike in Chain-Reaction Crash

Amish Man, 30, Killed Riding E-Bike in Chain-Reaction Crash

On my last visit to Holmes County, Ohio – December – I saw more e-bikes on the road than I did buggies, reflecting how popular they’ve become in America’s second-largest Amish community. These are very handy for getting around in this hilly area. But safety is an issue with a vehicle that can reach speeds of 20 mph or more, and which has become so…

This State Could Seize Homeowners’ Land to Build An Amish Buggy Lane – and Residents Say They’re Being Ignored

This State Could Seize Homeowners’ Land to Build An Amish Buggy Lane – and Residents Say They’re Being Ignored

There is a plan to build a buggy lane on U.S. 6, a highway in the Nappanee, Indiana settlement. But residents of Bremen, a town in the community, say their concerns are being ignored as the plan moves forward, seemingly full speed ahead. The Indiana Department of Transportation apparently promised residents “open houses” to discuss the topic – which reportedly never happened. It’s described as…

Judge Rules Amish Mother Ruth Miller Not Guilty By Reason Of Insanity In Son’s Drowning Death

Judge Rules Amish Mother Ruth Miller Not Guilty By Reason Of Insanity In Son’s Drowning Death

Judge Michael Ernest delivered his verdict this morning in Tuscarawas County, Ohio Common Pleas Court in the case of Ruth Miller, charged with aggravated murder in the drowning death of her 4-year-old son, Vincen. Judge Ernest found Miller not guilty by reason of insanity, following her waiving of a jury trial last week. From WKYC: NEW PHILADELPHIA, Ohio — Ruth Miller, the Amish mother accused…

The Most Dangerous Job in America Claims the Life of a 29-Year-Old Kentucky Amish Man

The Most Dangerous Job in America Claims the Life of a 29-Year-Old Kentucky Amish Man

Logging workers have the highest fatality rate of any civilian job in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The profession sees 110.4 fatalities per 100,000 workers – a rate more than double that of roofing (the third-deadliest occupation) and over 33 times higher than the national average for all workers. Amish in many communities are involved in the lumber industry – both…