Amish Culture

My friend, country and folk musician John Schmid, is a favorite among the Amish. John’s story, at least in part, can be found here. John is the founder of Common Ground Ministries, and has been long active in prison ministry and other mission outreach via his music. If you’ve ever wondered if Amish like music […]

Continue Reading John Schmid Sings “Amish Nicknames”

A 16-year-old was killed in Lancaster County Saturday evening, when the buggy he was traveling in was hit by a speeding pickup. Three others in the buggy were seriously injured. From Lancaster Online: Samuel K. Lapp died as a result of the accident along Route 372 in Eden Township, state police confirmed Monday. Lapp’s older […]

Continue Reading 16-Year-Old Amish Teen Killed, 3 Others Seriously Injured; Truck Driver Charged With Speeding

Two updates in the Linda Stoltzfoos case. First, yesterday Justo Smoker pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and a related charge: Justo Smoker will waive his arraignment Friday and has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and false imprisonment in the disappearance of Linda Stoltzfoos, according to court documents. The 18-year-old Amish woman has been missing since […]

Continue Reading Justo Smoker Pleads Not Guilty; 600 Search For Linda Stoltzfoos

A while back a reader asked if Amish obituaries are made public. I responded with a post on the topic. I see them appear in news feeds nearly daily. They are published in newspapers and find their way online. With that in mind this recent obituary caught my eye for two reasons. One is that […]

Continue Reading An Amish Obituary: Amos S. Zook, Age 93

Here’s a simple video showing an Amish family harvesting corn row-by-row using a horse-drawn corn binder. Nice aerial scenes on a beautiful day. Rather than using a modern industrial-sized corn harvester, Amish family farmers harvest corn by this more laborious method. More than one pair of hands is needed which ensures it is a family […]

Continue Reading Amish Corn Harvest From Above (Video)

A northern Indiana Amish farmer lost 241 of 270 calves in a devastating fire on August 5th. But he is already on the way to getting back on his feet, thanks to help from the community. From WNDU: While the sadness of the event still lingers, there’s also a sign of a hope. The rubble […]

Continue Reading Calf Barn Already Rebuilt Following Devastating Fire

Another hit-and-run on an Amish buggy. This one happened yesterday in Clare County, Michigan, a place we recently covered here. From 9and10news.com: The Clare County Sheriff’s Department is asking for help to find whoever was behind the wheel during a hit-and-run with an Amish buggy. Deputies says it happened Sunday on Beaverton Road. They believe […]

Continue Reading Authorities Seek Hit & Run Driver (Clare County, MI)

The planned prayer ride for Linda Stoltzfoos took place Saturday, and had quite a turnout. The riders traveled 30 miles, from Ephrata to Bird-in-Hand, the area where Linda was last seen. From WFMZ: Thousands of bikers from across the country traveled to Lancaster County this weekend. They were all wearing yellow, which is 18-year-old Linda […]

Continue Reading Linda Stoltzfoos Prayer Ride Draws Thousands In Yellow, From As Far Away As California (Video)

Over 200 calves died following an explosion and fire which ravaged an Amish farmer’s barn yesterday. From WNDU: ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. (WNDU) – An Amish calf barn caught on fire this afternoon, killing the majority of the family’s calves. The call came in around 4:30 p.m. Crews responded to the 59000 block of State Road […]

Continue Reading Over 200 Calves Lost In Amish Barn Fire

The family of a 23-year-old Pennsylvania Amish man killed in an April hit-and-run may be closer to finding answers in a case described as having a “number of strange twists”. From WJAC: CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WJAC) — It’s been nearly three and half months since an Amish man was killed in a hit-and-run crash on […]

Continue Reading Investigators Closer To Answers In Deadly PA Hit & Run?