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.

LinkedIn
Amish Teen Charged With Murder Of Amish Woman (Ohio)

Amish Teen Charged With Murder Of Amish Woman (Ohio)

I believe “shocking” is appropriate to describe this case. A young Amish man has been charged with the murder of an Amish woman in Ohio. And according to police, he has made a confession – of a sort (more on that below). This is out of Meigs County, Ohio, home to a tiny Amish community. From WSAZ: MEIGS COUNTY, Ohio (WSAZ) – A man has…

Amish Country Through The Seasons (12 Photos)

Amish Country Through The Seasons (12 Photos)

Not long before he passed away in 2021, Don Shenk shared with me a wonderful collection of his Amish Country images. Don took some beautiful photos over the years (mostly in Lancaster County, PA), compiling them in photo books. We had a look at one selection of his images in this 2021 post. I recently have been looking back through what Don shared with me,…

Two Amish Girls in Critical Condition After Another Michigan Buggy Crash

Two Amish Girls in Critical Condition After Another Michigan Buggy Crash

The Amish girls’ ages are 1 and 10 years old. From upnorthlive.com: GLADWIN COUNTY, Mich.— Several people were injured in a buggy crash on Friday. According to the Gladwin County Sheriff’s Office, on Friday, May 2nd at approximately 8:25 p.m., deputies investigated a crash near the intersection of Bard Road and Calhoun Road involving a motor vehicle and Amish Buggy. Deputies say that the buggy…

(Another) Hit-and-Run Leaves Seven Amish Injured

(Another) Hit-and-Run Leaves Seven Amish Injured

This one happened in upstate New York. From news10.com: JACKSON, N.Y. (NEWS10) — The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a crash that happened on Tuesday between a car and an Amish buggy. The crash was on State Route 22 in the town of Jackson, officials said. Sheriff’s deputies responded to the crash around 4:20 p.m., according to the sheriff’s office. At the time of…

Police: Buggy Robber Also Targeted Amish With Bad Checks – Helped By His Wife

Police: Buggy Robber Also Targeted Amish With Bad Checks – Helped By His Wife

Following the suspect’s arrest earlier this month, I wasn’t expecting another piece to the Amish buggy robbery story, but here it is. According to police, the man accused of armed buggy robbery had also been targeting the Amish in less-violent ways. Namely, writing bad checks to Amish stores in which he and an accomplice would acquire goods and attempt to get cash back from the…

Wisconsin Police: “Kiddos” Need to Stop Spooking Amish Horses

Wisconsin Police: “Kiddos” Need to Stop Spooking Amish Horses

Apparently “kiddos” in one Wisconsin community (Frederic, Wisconsin) have made a game of trying to scare Amish buggy horses. “Kiddos” is the word the police department uses; “juveniles” is from the report at wearegreenbay.com: FREDERIC, Wis. (WFRV) – Authorities in northwestern Wisconsin are urging parents to speak with their children after receiving multiple reports of juveniles jumping in front of Amish horses and riding dirt…

Teenage Burglar Gets 8 Days in Jail For Amish Break-Ins

Teenage Burglar Gets 8 Days in Jail For Amish Break-Ins

There are a couple of things that grab your attention about this latest story of crime against the Amish (more below).  From wearegreenbay.com: WAUSHARA COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) – A 17-year-old boy from Wisconsin has reached a plea agreement after allegedly burglarizing two Amish-owned businesses, including one location that was targeted twice. According to the Waushara County Sheriff’s Office, the first incident occurred on November 6,…

Someone Stole Five Amish Puppies Worth Thousands of Dollars (Lancaster County)

Someone Stole Five Amish Puppies Worth Thousands of Dollars (Lancaster County)

I’m calling them “Amish puppies” in the title as shorthand. But you know what I mean here. Amish-owned puppies. Five of them have gone missing from a Lancaster County farm. This report is from WHTM: LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)– Pennsylvania State Police are searching for a suspect who stole five Labradoodle puppies from an Amish farm in Lancaster County. According to State Police, on Tuesday,…

“Our heart just felt drawn to come help” ~ The Amish Rebuild in NC (11 Images & Video)

“Our heart just felt drawn to come help” ~ The Amish Rebuild in NC (11 Images & Video)

Last month we learned how the Amish were helping rebuild in the wonderfully-named town of Bat Cave, NC. Today it’s a report on how Amish have been helping with Hurricane Helene relief efforts in a nearby town. And we even have some on-camera comments from some of the Amish young people involved. Chimney Rock is a name I was familiar with growing up, as a…

Ben & Rose Release New GOSPEL Song: “But For The Blood”

Ben & Rose Release New GOSPEL Song: “But For The Blood”

Two weeks have gone by, and it’s time for another Ben & Rose song. They seem to be putting them out at a bit faster pace now – and I’ve got no complaints here 🙂 This time around – something a bit different. While they’ve mostly done Country tunes, this time around it’s a Gospel genre song – “just in time for Easter.” Checking around,…