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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Criminal Complaint: Driver’s Phone Showed 18 Downloaded TikTok Videos Around Time Of Fatal Buggy Crash

Criminal Complaint: Driver’s Phone Showed 18 Downloaded TikTok Videos Around Time Of Fatal Buggy Crash

Last August, Clark County, Wisconsin saw a tragic buggy wreck, which claimed the life of an Amish man and seriously injured a 12-year-old Amish child Now, charges have been filed: the driver faces homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle, and reckless driving causing great bodily harm. Details have also emerged that shed light on what may have contributed to the wreck. Driver Suggests The…

Step Inside A Hidden Amish Variety Store Full Of Things You Won’t Find At Walmart (35 Photos)

Step Inside A Hidden Amish Variety Store Full Of Things You Won’t Find At Walmart (35 Photos)

On my recent visit to the Amish community in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, I of course made sure to visit a lot of Amish businesses. And I had one in mind in particular – a certain variety store that I remembered fondly from my last trip to the settlement – over a decade earlier. Variety stores are among my favorites. That’s because, by their nature, they…

Man Who Fled Deadly Amish Buggy Crash Pleads Guilty — Manslaughter Charge Dropped

Man Who Fled Deadly Amish Buggy Crash Pleads Guilty — Manslaughter Charge Dropped

Last November, 16-year-old Elmer Borntrager lost his life when he was hit by a car while driving a buggy in his Clarke County, Iowa community. Elmer was left behind on the road by the driver, who fled the scene. Authorities later located the man they believed was behind the wheel – 41-year-old Jacob Wright, who was charged with multiple offenses, including Involuntary Manslaughter. Wright pleaded…

Nebraska Is Fighting Four Major Wildfires — One Just Hit An Amish Community “In The Middle Of Nowhere”

Nebraska Is Fighting Four Major Wildfires — One Just Hit An Amish Community “In The Middle Of Nowhere”

While you might not know it given the prevalence of other news stories, the biggest wildfire in Nebraska history is currently raging, having claimed close to 600,000 acres since March 12th. One report from yesterday says it continues to burn out of control. And it’s actually worse than that sounds – because in addition to the biggest-ever fire, a further three major wildfires are currently…

Who Is Ivan Miller? New Details On The Man Raised Amish Charged In Killings Of Three Utah Women

Who Is Ivan Miller? New Details On The Man Raised Amish Charged In Killings Of Three Utah Women

This is not a breaking news story, and many of you have probably heard of it by now. A 22-year-old man named Ivan Miller, who grew up in an Amish family, is charged with murdering three women in a “killing spree” in Utah. The killings were done seemingly at random, allegedly so he could acquire basic resources like a car and money. Miller was arrested…

Ben & Rose: “Hold Fast To The Right” (Full Song)

Ben & Rose: “Hold Fast To The Right” (Full Song)

Not quite a month ago, we got Ben and Rose’s short preview version of “Hold Fast to the Right”, a 120-year-old hymn. About that, one commenter wrote “I have not hear this song in 70+ years—what a joy to now hear it again!” Now the duo have just today released the full studio version. So this is happy news not only for that commenter, but…

Amish Mother Ruth Miller Committed To Psychiatric Hospital In Son’s Drowning Case

Amish Mother Ruth Miller Committed To Psychiatric Hospital In Son’s Drowning Case

Ruth Miller appeared in court as scheduled today following last week’s not guilty by reason of insanity verdict in the drowning death of her 4-year-old son, Vincen. Having reviewed the expert reports and testimony, Judge Michael Ernest decided Miller’s placement in a mental health facility near Miller’s home community. From WKYC: NEW PHILADELPHIA, Ohio — Ruth Miller, the Amish mother recently found not guilty by…

An Amish Winter Trip Gone Wrong (Part 8): The Cost of Saying Yes

An Amish Winter Trip Gone Wrong (Part 8): The Cost of Saying Yes

Author Haley Straw returns today with the final part – 8 of 8 – of a new winter-themed series, drawing on one of her more challenging experiences as an Amish taxi driver. Part 1 is here, part 2 here, part 3 here, part 4 here, and part 5 here, part 6 here, and part 7 here if you missed them. A special thanks to Haley for sharing this story with…

Horse Killed After Amish Buggy Crash Sends It Into Traffic

Horse Killed After Amish Buggy Crash Sends It Into Traffic

Very sad for this horse, though fortunately the Amish woman driving the buggy was not injured. This happened Monday in the New Wilmington, Pennsylvania Amish community. From NCNewsonline: A New Wilmington man has been cited for his involvement in a three-vehicle accident that involved an Amish horse and buggy in Wilmington Township on Monday. The collision reportedly occurred around 6:50 a.m. on Route 208 near…

Amish Instagram Influencer “Melanskia” Isn’t Real — But 300,000 People Follow Her Health Advice

Amish Instagram Influencer “Melanskia” Isn’t Real — But 300,000 People Follow Her Health Advice

The Amish woman you see in the above Instagram screen-grab is not real. But you’d be forgiven for thinking that she is. That’s how effective AI video-generation has gotten in a relatively fast time. Some profitable businesses have been created around AI personas. “Melanskia” is one of them. An article in the New York Times sheds some light on who is behind Melanskia. From the…