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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Yes – Amish Buggies DO Have To Stop At Stop Signs…

Yes – Amish Buggies DO Have To Stop At Stop Signs…

Maybe you’ve seen it as well – an Amish buggy blowing through a stop sign. A woman named Katrina recently noticed just that – in fact, she witnessed two Amish buggies running stop signs in her Missouri community. So she submitted a simple question to a local news station: “Are Amish buggies required to follow the laws of the road?” Here’s the reporting from station…

“Ultra-Rare” Genetic Disorder Discovered To Be 4,500 Times More Common Among Amish

“Ultra-Rare” Genetic Disorder Discovered To Be 4,500 Times More Common Among Amish

Due to the unusual nature of the Amish population, they frequently serve as a source for medical discoveries, especially related to genetic research. These can be discoveries on the “positive” side – such as the gene mutation in one Amish community which accounts for an over 10% longer lifespan, or one linked to lower levels of heart disease. They can also be about negative health…

Amish Resident Cares For Lost One-Eyed Pony – As Deputies Seek Owner (Kentucky)

Amish Resident Cares For Lost One-Eyed Pony – As Deputies Seek Owner (Kentucky)

Not your everyday story here, but one that hopefully will have a happy ending soon. This story comes to us from Christian County, Kentucky – a county with a significant presence of both Amish and Mennonites. A lost pony – which happens to have only one eye – is currently waiting in temporary digs for its owner to come forward and claim it. From Christian…

Middlefield Original Amish Cheese Recall Expanded: Listeria Possible In More Products & States

Middlefield Original Amish Cheese Recall Expanded: Listeria Possible In More Products & States

Back in August, we learned that over 5,000 lbs of cheese produced by Middlefield Original – a Geauga County, Ohio co-op comprised almost entirely of Amish farmers – were potentially contaminated with listeria. That announcement covered a total of five cheese products which were produced in June and July, and distributed in Ohio in July and August. Now comes news that the recall has been…

Amish & Mennonite Investors Lose Big Yet Again – This Time, In Alleged $770 Million ATM Ponzi Scheme

Amish & Mennonite Investors Lose Big Yet Again – This Time, In Alleged $770 Million ATM Ponzi Scheme

It’s looking like Amish and Mennonite investors are once again victims in a big investment fraud case. It was reported last week that Lancaster County, PA businessman Daryl Heller is being charged by the US Department of Justice with multiple counts of fraud – for his role in an ATM investment operation being described as a Ponzi scheme. From the report at Reuters: A Pennsylvania man…

Amish Mother Ruth Miller Pleads Not Guilty By Reason Of Insanity (UPDATE: Attorney Speaks, Citing “Mental Defect”)

Amish Mother Ruth Miller Pleads Not Guilty By Reason Of Insanity (UPDATE: Attorney Speaks, Citing “Mental Defect”)

Holmes County, Ohio Amish mother Ruth Miller had her arraignment this afternoon in Tuscarawas Common Pleas Court. Miller is charged with aggravated murder, among other charges, in the death of her four-year-old son Vincen Miller at Atwood Lake. There are a couple of pieces of news emerging from the events of the day – the main one being that, as expected, Miller has pleaded not…

22 States Back The Amish In School Vaccine Fight – But Will Supreme Court Hear Their Case?

22 States Back The Amish In School Vaccine Fight – But Will Supreme Court Hear Their Case?

We’ve been following the story of the Amish schools who faced fines reaching six figures for failing to adhere to New York’s vaccine requirement for school age children. The children in question were Amish, and the schools in question were Amish-run schools. Previously, New York provided a religious exemption, but that ended in 2019. The Amish in turn rejected the requirement to make sure their…

Amish Lake Deaths: Body Cam Footage Shows Ruth Miller’s Strange Statements, Behavior; Lawyer Suggests Insanity Defense. UPDATE: Miller Indicted On Seven Charges

Amish Lake Deaths: Body Cam Footage Shows Ruth Miller’s Strange Statements, Behavior; Lawyer Suggests Insanity Defense. UPDATE: Miller Indicted On Seven Charges

Amish mother Ruth Miller was booked into jail Monday, charged with aggravated murder in the death of her young son Vincen, among other charges. This followed a weeklong stay at a mental health facility. Today, it appears news outlets were able to acquire body cam footage from August 23, when authorities were called to Atwood Lake after Miller allegedly intentionally drove a golf cart carrying…

Second Kentucky Man Charged With Sex Crimes – After Mennonite Community Tips Off Police

Second Kentucky Man Charged With Sex Crimes – After Mennonite Community Tips Off Police

This is a disturbing story, but one that needs covering, for multiple reasons. Fresh reports describe what appears to be a second man from the same plain Mennonite community being charged with sex-related crimes within the span of a few weeks. And in this second instance just being reported, it seems that action by the Mennonite community was pivotal in making the suspect’s arrest. First…

Behind The Scenes At An Amish Horse Festival (32 Photos)

Behind The Scenes At An Amish Horse Festival (32 Photos)

We’ve got a nice photo set from the annual Amish horse festival Horse Progress Days, courtesy of Jim Halverson. The latest edition took place in Clare County, Michigan, in July. If you missed it, you can also check out Milo Miller’s set of photos from the event, or this write-up on it. Jim’s photos are more of the “behind-the-scenes” – food and refreshments, the crowd…