Six Eye-Catching Amish News Stories (And: Explaining Where I've Been...)

After 6 months away from YouTube, I'm back with a big video. Here's my take on some eye-catching news stories happening around Amish America. Plus: I explain just what I've been up to...

This somewhat different video format is longer than usual. Watch it all the way through, or jump to a specific story:

0:00 Intro
0:55 Amish Population 2023
7:17 Twin Driver Mystery in Tragic Amish Accident
13:24 Amish Love the $1.2 Billion Bank of Bird-in-Hand
17:01 "Amish Farm Chicken" In Trouble With Authorities
21:54 Bizarre: Amish-Looking Man Tried To Kill 11 Amish Children
24:34 What makes the "Michigan Circle" Amish unusual?
30:23 Where I've been

Stories referenced:

2023 Amish Population: Five Years & 50,000 More Amish https://amishamerica.com/2023-amish-p...

Which Twin Was Driving? Questions Over Crash That Killed Amish Girls
https://amishamerica.com/which-twin-w...

Nearly 10 years after founding, Bank of Bird-in-Hand's special relationship with Amish community fuels success https://lancasteronline.com/business/...

“Amish Farm Chicken” Plant Raided, Two Dozen Children Found Working Illegally https://amishamerica.com/amish-farm-c...

Bizarre: Man With Amish Appearance & Name Sought To Kill 11 Amish Children https://amishamerica.com/man-with-ami...

Who Are The “Michigan Circle” Amish? https://amishamerica.com/michigan-cir...

After a decade, South Dakota's Amish are moving on
https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news...

Collision that killed kids in Amish buggy leaves question: Which twin was driving SUV?
https://www.startribune.com/fatal-cra...

Family of Amish girls killed in crash reflect on their loss
https://www.kttc.com/2023/10/27/famil...

Nearly 10 years after founding, Bank of Bird-in-Hand's special relationship with Amish community fuels success
https://lancasteronline.com/business/...

A Local Bank in Amish Country Flourishes Amid Dearth of Small Lenders
https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-local-...

https://www.kttn.com/spickard-man-fac...

The Michigan Amish Fellowship: A Case Study for Defining an Amish Affiliation
https://plainanabaptistjournal.org/in...

Photo Credits: Jim Halverson; Don Burke; Tom Geist; Mike Sparks; Jamie Meyeraan; Don Shenk; Grundy County Law Enforcement Center; B&D Builders; George Thomas/flickr; Andy Mooers; Phil Sarlo



My name is Erik Wesner and I'm not Amish. Back in 2004, I met the Amish while selling books. Since then, I've visited 5,000+ Amish homes & dozens of Amish communities. My book on Amish business, Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive, was published in 2010. I run the Amish America website: https://amishamerica.com/