The Amish take their name from Jacob Ammann, a conservative Elder of the 17th Century, who broke away from the Mennonites and followed a more strict religious path. Still part of the Anabaptist movement, the Amish believe in more conservative religious principles and greater separation from the world and its everyday practices. There are currently about 90,000 of these "Plain People" living in the United States. They originally settled in what is now the Lancaster County area of Pennsylvania in the early 18th century, but the largest number now live in the state of Ohio. There are Amish communities in 15 other states including New York! Nowhere is the separation from the modern world more apparent than in the very well kept Amish farmhouses. There is no electricity. Heat is provided by coal, oil, or gas heaters and light is still provided by kerosene lamps. Windmills and waterwheels, a familiar sight on all Amish farms, provide a ready supply of water. While the Amish do pay local school taxes, they accept no government funding for their own one room school houses. Education is provided through eighth grade, and every child attends vocational school each Saturday. This provides ample preparation for the farmers, craftspeople, and homemakers each will become.

Most Amish will work from daybreak till sundown every day except Sunday. The average family will have 7 or 8 children. They too will begin contributing from an early age, but ample playtime and a happy childhood are of the utmost important to the Amish. The well known and easily recognized buggies have become synonymous with the Amish. There are open-air Courting and Spring buggies, Double Team wagons for heavy loads, and the trademark enclosed Family and Market Buggies. Another familiar and awe inspiring event in Amish country is the community barn raising, which stems from the strong belief that no one person should suffer any heavy burden alone. As many as 200-300 people will gather; the men working dilligently on assembling the barn while the woman provide refreshments and a hearty meal. The Amish are entirely unsurpassed in their work ethic, craftsmanship, and attention to detail and quality. We are proud to be associated with these wonderful people and their fine products.