Amish Business

2-State Amish Business Guide (Allegany County, NY & Potter County, PA)

This is an interesting online Amish business guide for several reasons (guide link has been removed at Salamanca Press). First, it is very nicely done in an online “booklet” format. It features about two dozen businesses, of which around 20 appear to be Amish-owned. In addition to the ads, there are photos, info on the Amish and even some writings from Amish residents of the…

Bike or Buggy? Insights From 3 Amish Bicycle Shop Owners

Bike or Buggy? Insights From 3 Amish Bicycle Shop Owners

This was a neat idea for an article. Denise Fedorow of the Goshen News interviewed three Amish bicycle shop owners in the Nappanee, Indiana community to get their insights on what types of bicycles appeal to their Amish customers. Many Amish in this community and others use bicycles as a form of transportation (for more on the Amish bicycles vs. scooters question, see here). The…

Some Surprises From The 2021 Gratz Mud Sale (14 Photos)

Some Surprises From The 2021 Gratz Mud Sale (14 Photos)

Similar to 2020, many mud sales have been canceled this year, though some are still happening. The Gratz, PA sale (Dauphin County) does not seem to show up on “official” lists of mud sales, but these are Lancaster-descent Amish, and it appears to be the same concept – a sale meant to support the local fire company. So I’m taking the libery of calling it…

NY Amish Auction Video (White & Gray Buggies?)

NY Amish Auction Video (White & Gray Buggies?)

So this video threw me for a loop at first – it opens up with footage of a Nebraska Amish buggy. But the actual auction footage, and later buggies, appear to be all Lancaster Amish. Video creator “Art Food and Culture in the USA” comments that this is the Seneca region of New York. Amish have flocked to New York in recent years and among…

Is Amish Country Dairy In Fact “Amish”?

Is Amish Country Dairy In Fact “Amish”?

This is a neat story about a business called Amish Country Dairy which is now producing six types of flavored milk. It’s a good example of a business being creative to overcome the unfavorable milk market of recent years. The flavors (including peach, chocolate, maple, and coffee) are apparently all-natural (using real fruit, etc), and they say they are transparent about what goes in it….

Where To Find Amish Clothesline Wheels & More

Where To Find Amish Clothesline Wheels & More

On a post last week, Maureen asked where to find clothesline wheels. C.J. added: I too, would be interested in knowing where a wheel could be purchased and if they come in varying sizes. Do any hardware stores carry them, and could they be ordered online? Reader “Along 340” shared two favorite resources in reply – Lehman’s, and Good’s Store in Lancaster County. I’ve already…

12 More Jobs Done By Amish Women

12 More Jobs Done By Amish Women

We recently looked again at Amish women’s occupations in the post 5 Jobs Done By Amish Women. In that post, commenter “Along 340” shared a personal list of 12 further examples of Amish women’s occupations – which I felt deserved a post of its own. By the way, some of you may recognize “340” as the most famous road in Lancaster County Amish Country, also…

Inside The Walker Valley Market (24 Photos)

Inside The Walker Valley Market (24 Photos)

The Walker Valley Market in the Pearisburg, VA community is one of the nicest Amish food-and-more stores I’ve visited. I was here once before, about a year ago, but only shared quick photos of the front of the store and a couple of food items. A reader named Shawn also visited this place which featured in a 2016 post. I had a chance to make…

The “Gelt Bus” Brings Banking-On-Wheels To Amish In Lancaster County

The “Gelt Bus” Brings Banking-On-Wheels To Amish In Lancaster County

That’s one of the interesting things I learned from a recent article in Banking Dive on how banks work with Amish customers. The Bank of Bird-in-Hand has tried to make banking more convenient for its horse-and-buggy customers with an investment in four mobile banks: “Anytime you have to hitch the horse up and get in the buggy and drive it, it’s a production,” said Lori…

Inside 118-Year-Old Yoder Hardware & Lumber (16 Photos)

Inside 118-Year-Old Yoder Hardware & Lumber (16 Photos)

The Hutchinson News gives us a look inside Amish-owned 118-year-old Yoder Hardware & Lumber in Yoder, Kansas: Yoder Hardware sits at the center of this town whose population fluctuates at around 200. Like the hardware store’s owner, much of the population in Yoder is Amish. Because of the local presence of both Amish and Old Order Mennonites, the hardware store carries items that cater to…