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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This Amish Buggy Is “Only” $15,000

This Amish Buggy Is “Only” $15,000

After our look at an Amish buggy which sold for $18,400 at an auction in Gratz, PA, Jerry is back with a second buggy from the same event – this one for “only” $15,000. What makes this one different, and almost 20% cheaper? Jerry explains: “The second buggy sold was a step down in components. It featured a drum braking system and “rubber O” suspension.”…

18-Month-Old Amish Girl Drowns In Ohio Pond

This sad news arrived several days ago. Via cleveland19.com: ROME TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WOIO) – An 18-month-old Amish girl drowned in a pond on her family’s Rome Township property, the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office confirmed. The girl’s mother found her in the Dodgeville Road pond after she went missing for about 15 minutes, ACSO said. ACSO stated lifesaving measures were performed after she was taken out…

Marlene Lehman Shares Her Favorite Amish Dishes

Marlene Lehman Shares Her Favorite Amish Dishes

In our latest conversation, I spoke with Marlene Lehman about her favorite Amish-style dishes. She named several that I’d never heard of before, including: 1. Salad Dressing Cake Salad Dressing Cake uses Miracle Whip. And that’s how it gets its odd name. I admit when I heard “salad dressing cake” I first thought of Ranch or Vinagrette or Thousand Island dressing…not exactly my idea of…

Identity-Swapping Twins Try To Get Buggy Crash Charges Dismissed

Identity-Swapping Twins Try To Get Buggy Crash Charges Dismissed

The Petersen sisters, who you might remember from the buggy-car crash which killed two Amish schoolgirls in Minnesota, are trying to avoid a trial. Sarah and Samantha Petersen allegedly swapped identities so that one sister could take the blame instead of the other. Samantha was allegedly high on drugs when her vehicle hit the buggy and killed Irma (11) and Wilma (7) Miller last September….

Biker Club Raises Money For Amish Following Tragic Crash

Biker Club Raises Money For Amish Following Tragic Crash

A motorcycle club has done a charity ride to help the family of Amish from Burke’s Garden, Virginia killed in an accident in March. Nine people were killed in the crash in Wisconsin, including seven members of the Burke’s Garden Amish community, their van driver, and the driver of a semi truck. One boy survived the crash thanks to the efforts of a former active duty…

A Tennessee Amish “Prepper’s Paradise” Home (15 Photos)

A Tennessee Amish “Prepper’s Paradise” Home (15 Photos)

Into “prepping”? This Tennessee home might be just your thing. It’s being described as a “prepper’s paradise” in the listing. And it make sense to pitch Amish homes, especially the plainer ones (read: no bathrooms), as having prepper appeal. The home has a Lawrenceburg address, though that city is in the general vicinity of the Ethridge Swartzentruber Amish community. There is a second, much smaller…

Rebekah Byler Murder Case Update: Trial Postponed To Late 2024

Rebekah Byler Murder Case Update: Trial Postponed To Late 2024

This is not earth-shattering new information in the Rebekah Byler murder case. But, this is the first news we’ve seen since the court document release in March, so I wanted to bring you this update.  Shawn C. Cranston of Corry, PA was originally slated to be tried next month (June) for the killing of Byler and her unborn child. That trial has now been…

Have A Look At This $18,400 Amish Buggy

Have A Look At This $18,400 Amish Buggy

Ten years ago, we had a look at a $9,861 Amish buggy seen in a PA community. This one is nearly double that price. Conclusion: Inflation is hitting the Amish hard too! Well, maybe not just inflation. This buggy comes loaded with some flashy features (at least in Amish terms). So a chunk of the price tag likely reflects those add-ons. Remember this is something you…

Man Hits Amish Horse In The Dark, Survives

Man Hits Amish Horse In The Dark, Survives

This happened over the weekend in central Michigan. Via UpNorthLive: ISABELLA COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) — A 65-year-old Blanchard man is recovering at the hospital after he was unable to avoid a loose horse in the roadway, hitting it with his car. The horse was killed in the crash. According to Michigan State Police, he was driving west on Blanchard Road around 5 a.m. Saturday morning…