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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The Amish In Idaho

The Amish In Idaho

Since 2012 there has been a small community of Amish people in eastern Idaho, not far from the town of Salmon (Lemhi County). This video report takes us to an Amish-owned market owned by the Paul Miller family. Locals seem pleased to have the Amish in town: The bulk of the above video is on the Miller family’s Country Market and the produce, cheese, and…

An Amish Girl’s Adventures: Mackinac Island

An Amish Girl’s Adventures: Mackinac Island

In our previous installment of An Amish Girl’s Adventures, Rebecca Miller of Holmes County, Ohio shared her family’s vacation to Niagara Falls. Rebecca is back with the story of a trip with friends to Mackinac Island in northern Michigan. As you’ll learn below, something about Mackinac Island made Rebecca and her friends feel right at home. Mackinac Island Tour – Sept. 26-29, 2007 Wednesday We started…

Jim Cates: A Real-Life Amish “Romance”

Jim Cates: A Real-Life Amish “Romance”

I hope you enjoy the following story from Serving The Amish author Jim Cates, about an unlikely meeting, and the healing it brought one young Amish woman. The Power of Love “Love is a smoke, and is made with the fume of sighs.” Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act 1, Scene 1 The popularity of Amish romance novels remind us a) a good love story is…

23 Ways to “Live Amish”

23 Ways to “Live Amish”

Have you ever tried to “live like the Amish?” There have been quite a few books and articles written on the subject. It’s easy to see why. In a hectic, disjointed world, many of us crave things we see in Amish society. Things like strong community, life oriented around nature, and less dependence on technology, to name a few. Of course, you can’t truly live like the Amish….unless you…

Autumn Scenes From Snyder County, PA (20 Photos)

Autumn Scenes From Snyder County, PA (20 Photos)

Snyder County in central Pennsylvania is home to a small population of Amish residents. Reader Jerry recently paid a visit to the county and captured some scenes showing the fall colors and more. In honor of the season, here are some of Jerry’s photos from his visit taken in mid-October. And here’s a little background from Jerry on what you’ll see below: When most people think…

Look Inside a New York Amish Farmhouse (9 Photos)

Look Inside a New York Amish Farmhouse (9 Photos)

Earlier this year we had a look inside an Ohio Amish home, photos of which had been posted to a realtor’s website. Though it’s not especially common, Amish homes are sometimes listed online, to reach potential buyers beyond the local Amish community. You can currently view another Amish-owned home on the market in the Clymer, New York community. According to the listing on Zillow, this is…

Rebecca Miller: Miracles Still Do Happen

Rebecca Miller: Miracles Still Do Happen

Do you believe in miracles? Ohio Amish church member Rebecca Miller describes the following dramatic story as “a true happening here in the community.” She notes that “I took the liberty to change names to protect identity and took a writer’s liberties to add minute details to get a better story line. I heard the original event by word of mouth, so I embellished it slightly but…

2015 Amish Population Numbers

2015 Amish Population Numbers

As they do each year, the Young Center has published estimated numbers for the Amish population in 2015. A few highlights from the figures: Amish communities are now found in 31 states and 2 Canadian provinces. The new state this year is Vermont. A fresh settlement in the Green Mountain State made news back in July. Also new on the Amish map: the province of New Brunswick (a potential settlement…

Is It Worth Raising A Stink Over Amish Horse Manure?

Is It Worth Raising A Stink Over Amish Horse Manure?

Amish people rely on literal horsepower, and those animals leave behind their own waste products which land on the roads. This inevitably gets run over by cars no doubt perturbing their owners, and is hardly the most picturesque side of life in “Amish Country.” So from time to time you come across news stories from corners of America where this is a point of conflict between Amish and…

Ohio Amish Girl Now Reportedly Cancer-Free

Ohio Amish Girl Now Reportedly Cancer-Free

An update on Sarah Hershberger, an 11-year old Amish girl who was recently the focus of a public battle over child welfare and parental rights. Sarah was diagnosed in 2013 with a form of leukemia described as “highly curable.” After undergoing conventional chemotherapy, Sarah’s parents elected to remove her from the treatment due to the adverse side effects. In lieu of a conventional approach, they…