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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18-Year-Old Dies In PA Crash; Buggy Wheel Was “Partially In The Travel Lane”

18-Year-Old Dies In PA Crash; Buggy Wheel Was “Partially In The Travel Lane”

Eighteen-year-old Daniel Yoder of Miles Township in Centre County, Pennsylvania lost his life Saturday when his buggy was struck by a minivan. From Centre Daily Times: The driver of a 2023 Toyota Sienna hit the buggy about 5:50 p.m. Saturday on state Route 150 about a 1/2 mile north of Sayers Dam and Marsh Creek roads in Liberty Township, state police at Rockview wrote in…

Driver Charged With Homicide…18 Months After Crash That Killed Young Amish Man

Driver Charged With Homicide…18 Months After Crash That Killed Young Amish Man

A 21-year-old New York Amish man named Abraham Shetler lost his life in December 2023, when the buggy he was traveling in was struck by a pickup truck. A 19-year-old riding with him faced life-threatening injuries, but survived. Now, the driver who struck the buggy has been arrested – and will face charges. From localsyr.com: TOWN OF OSWEGATHCHIE, N.Y. (WWTI) – A 34-year-old Ogdensburg man…

Amish In This Maine Community Are Keeping Food Lovers Happy

Amish In This Maine Community Are Keeping Food Lovers Happy

Of all the Maine Amish communities (11 and counting), the Unity settlement has gotten the most media attention over the years – whether it’s about a beloved local market being rebuilt, “donut day“, ice harvesting, or a specialty meats business in the community. That’s why it’s neat to see this look at the community at Smyrna (Aroostook County) – and specifically some Amish food businesses…

A Spectator’s View of Horse Progress Days 2025 (20 Photos)

A Spectator’s View of Horse Progress Days 2025 (20 Photos)

After posting about the latest Horse Progress Days, held last week in Clare, Michigan, I was fortunate enough to receive not one, but two sets of photos from attendees of this year’s edition – from Jim Halverson, who many of you will recognize from frequent excellent photos here, and from Milo G. Miller, Publisher of the Budget newspaper. Some of you might be readers of…

ANOTHER Michigan Buggy Wreck: Alleged Drunk Driver Sends 2 Amish To Hospital “Seriously Injured” (UPDATED)

ANOTHER Michigan Buggy Wreck: Alleged Drunk Driver Sends 2 Amish To Hospital “Seriously Injured” (UPDATED)

Michigan, what is the deal? It seems like once or twice a month now we have another story of a serious car-buggy road wreck coming out of the Wolverine State – where Amish, of course, end up on the losing end. Reports are coming out over the past hour or two, out of Gladwin County, Michigan. Here’s the summary from abc12 News: GLADWIN COUNTY, Mich….

Amish Acres Will Be Sold – Again. What Happened with The Barns at Nappanee?

Amish Acres Will Be Sold – Again. What Happened with The Barns at Nappanee?

The Amish Acres complex in Nappanee, Indiana was a long-running and popular tourist destination in northern Indiana Amish Country. It offered a restaurant, theater shows, and Amish-themed tours and activities. I think it’s fair to say it was one of the best-known Amish-themed tourist attractions in the country, maybe “top five” even. After a 50-year run, the property was sold by its original owners in…

Five-Year-Old Amish Boy Killed While Riding Scooter

Five-Year-Old Amish Boy Killed While Riding Scooter

A tragic accident happened several days ago in Emmet County, Michigan. A five-year-old Amish boy lost his life on the road. Here’s what happened, via the Emmet County Sheriff’s Office: On July 1, 2025, at approximately 2009 hours, Emmet County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a fatal traffic accident on Sand Road in Maple River Township. The driver involved is a 50-year-old male from Maple River…

Ben & Rose New Release: “The Robin & The Eggs” (Full Song)

Ben & Rose New Release: “The Robin & The Eggs” (Full Song)

We got a preview of this song two weeks ago. Now Amish couple Ben & Rose have released the full version of “The Robin & The Eggs”. Neat to hear and see the full version after the teaser! Many – but of course not all – of Ben and Rose’s songs have an upbeat feel to them. But as mentioned on the preview clip, this…

The Year’s Biggest Amish Horse Festival is Happening This Weekend (31st Edition)

The Year’s Biggest Amish Horse Festival is Happening This Weekend (31st Edition)

Horse Progress Days, the Amish horsepower showcase now into its fourth decade, will kick off tomorrow (July 4th) and run through Saturday. This is a moveable event, but as in previous years, this year’s edition is happening in Clare County, Michigan, home to a sizeable Amish population. It will be held at the Alvin Yoder, Jr. farm, according to a report in Wilcox Newspapers. More:…