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 Family Performs “Auld Lang Syne”

Amish Family Performs “Auld Lang Syne”

Here’s one for your New Year. Following the Amish Country Music Video post, some of you brought back to my attention videos by the Brandenberger family of northern Indiana. I had come across these some years ago but forgotten about them. I think at the time I wasn’t 100% sure if this was an Amish family – or more an “Amish-esque” one (eg, keeping Amish cultural…

A Snowy Visit To Amish In Michigan (12 Photos)

A Snowy Visit To Amish In Michigan (12 Photos)

Jim Halverson has checked in with another visit to Amish in Clare County, Michigan. This visit took place a few days before Christmas. There are two Amish communities in the county, one much larger than the other, and a third partially in the county. In addition to the snow-covered landscape you can see Jim also encountered some fresh snow on his visit. Like in this…

Amish “Circle Letters” (Explained)

Amish “Circle Letters” (Explained)

 I asked Marlene Lehman about the Amish custom of circle letters. If you haven’t heard of the circle letter, it’s a delightfully old-fashioned way for Amish people (with some sort of connection – sometimes “deep”, sometimes based on coincidence) to stay connected across communities. A viewer on YouTube jokingly referred to the circle letter as “Amish group chat”.  Marlene explains more in our talk,…

Goodbye To A Semi-Famous Amish Business

Goodbye To A Semi-Famous Amish Business

It’s not “goodbye” quite yet, but one Maine Amishman is soon closing down his – dare I say semi-famous – upscale meats-and-cheeses market. I call it “semi-famous” because Matthew Secich’s Charcuterie has been featured multiple times in newspaper articles. Part of the public interest has to do with his unusual background. Secich is a former big-city chef who joined the Amish in the Unity, Maine…

Debunking Five Common Amish Health Claims

Debunking Five Common Amish Health Claims

I chipped in ideas for a recent USA Today article challenging some of the wilder health claims you see out there about the Amish. This is the social media post they were responding to: I’m not sure why this particular post was chosen, as these sorts of claims are pretty commonplace. I imagine because it manages to put so many of the more common misbeliefs…

Visiting Amish Stores In Iowa (15 Photos)

Visiting Amish Stores In Iowa (15 Photos)

Reader Denise Joyal shares some nice photos from Amish stores in southern Iowa. Over 10,000 Amish live in Iowa, in around two dozen communities. Denise takes us to stores in two of those communities today. She has previously taken us to Amish stores in Buchanan County, Iowa as well as a look inside a $3 Amish Auction “Junk Box” in Hopkinton, Iowa. So I think…

Amish Country Music Video?

Amish Country Music Video?

So here’s a different spin on the words “Amish Country”. Making the news right now is this country music song “Slowly But Surely”, performed by a young Amish couple known simply as “Ben & Rose” (video at bottom). Now we’ve seen many Amish singing videos before – and even videos of Amish young people performing with instruments. But this is the first “music video” I’ve…

Goot Essa Cheese Winner & John’s 10 Favorite Pairings

Goot Essa Cheese Winner & John’s 10 Favorite Pairings

We’ve got a winner in the Goot Essa Cheese Assortment Giveaway. Before I share that, I just want to say a big thank you from both me and John, for all the wonderful comments that you left about the cheese, cheese cave post, and this site/email newsletter. We got about 200 comments on that post, and I tried to respond to as many as I…

Goot Essa Cheese Giveaway (Plus: A Closer Look at Cheese Caves)

Goot Essa Cheese Giveaway (Plus: A Closer Look at Cheese Caves)

We’re doing a cheese basket giveaway for Goot Essa. You can enter to win simply by leaving a comment on this post. I’ll post the winner here Friday. The assortment that owner John Esh and co. are giving away is called “Amish Tastes” (see below): From the description: This medium-bodied cheese trio features a palate-pleasing array of flavors. From our buttery Old German Weissa Kase…

Amishman Explains: Beards, Suspenders & The Bonnet

Amishman Explains: Beards, Suspenders & The Bonnet

“It’s amazing what our labels do,” says Ben Riehl. In this video, Ben explains why Amish men wear beards and suspenders. He also describes the difference between a bonnet and kapp (prayer covering). This was an illuminating and fun discussion. If you prefer to read, you’ll find the full transcript of our conversation just below this video.  Amish Men & The Beard Erik Wesner:…