Things to Consider When Working with Amish Farmers

The following information is designed to assist conservation planners when working with Amish producers. Creating a working relationship with Amish producers is vital to conservation because the Amish comprise the majority of farmers in large farming areas such as Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and Holmes/Wayne County, Ohio. Amish farming communities can also be found 22 other states in the U.S. and one Canadian province. These strategies to working with Amish producers are practical for every interaction with the Amish, considering their different, and often misunderstood, approach to farming and everyday life. It is important that one understands the basic tenants of Amish life before entering an Amish community in which outsiders are not trusted.

Amish producers in the U.S. have their roots in the Anabaptist movement which occurred at the close of the Protestant Reformation in 1517. In 1693, Jacob Amman, for whom the Amish are names, provided leadership to those individuals who were in direct conflict with the contemporary social and religious order. The Amish, like other members of the Anabaptist movement, were persecuted for their religious views. They were tortured, imprisoned, and burned at the stake for their beliefs. This persecution is chronicled in the 1,100 page book Martyr's Mirror, which is still read as part of contemporary Amish tradition. Along with torture and imprisonment, the Amish were driven to areas with poor soils in the valleys of Switzerland, France, and Germany. In order to ensure their survival as a group, the Amish expanded and improved their farming techniques in crop production and livestock management and production. In the 1720's the first ships with Amish passengers began to arrive in the U.S. port of Philadelphia. Among the first Amish settlements was Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. This remains a viable Amish farming community today.

Today the Amish population to the U.S. numbers almost 180,000 in over 25 states. The number of Amish residents in the U.S. doubles every 20 years, with a new settlement being established every 5 weeks.

Estimated Amish Population (Old Order and New Order) by State Province in North America

State/ProvinceDistrictsAdult MembersChildren/Adults

Ohio 368 22,100 49,700

Pennsylvania 297 17,800 40,100

Indiana 242 14,500 32,650

Wisconsin 76 4,950 10,250

Michigan 69 4,150 9,300

Missouri 45 2,700 6,100

New York 37 2,200 5,000

Kentucky 38 2,300 5,150

Iowa 36 2,150 4,850

Illinois 31 1,850 4,200

Ontario 24 1,450 3,250

Minnesota 12 700 1,600

Tennessee 11 650 1,500

Delaware 8 500 1,100

Kansas 8 500 1,100

Maryland 6 350 800

Oklahoma 5 300 700

Montana 4 250 550

Virginia 4 250 550

Six states* 10 600 1,350

TOTAL 1,331 80,250 179,800

Reproduced from "The Riddle of the Amish." Donald B. Kraybill. Appendix C, pg. 336.

Beliefs

To understand a group as deeply rooted in religion as the Amish, a basic knowledge of their belief system is required. The basic beliefs of the Amish are outlined in what they call the Ordnung. Varying by church district, the Ordnung state the 15 doctoral points of Amish law. Included in these are submission to God, church, and others, self-reliance, stewardship of the land, and disconnection from the external world. The Amish believe in a strict literal interpretation of the bible and adult baptism. It is between the ages of 16 and 24 that one may become a member of the church only after baptism. One useful thing to know is that the Amish do not believe in being photographed, thinking it vain and prideful. In addition, the Amish, often referred to as "Pennsylvania Dutch" are not Dutch, but German, and often speak the language fluently in addition to English.

One of the basic beliefs of the Amish, self-sufficiency, is accomplished only through another major belief of the Amish, hard work. The group believes that hard work is honorable and they enjoy the process of the job at hand just as much as the final product. To them work itself has meaning when one does the best job he/she can. Through this work ethic the Amish have been able to attain the goal of self-sufficiency, relying on the outside world for unnecessary goods such as bread flour, sugar, household equipment, and furnishings.

The Amish also achieve self-sufficiency through the shunning of certain technology. II Corinthians 6:14 states, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers". Taken literally, the Amish use this verse from the bible to justify having no power, telephone, or natural gas lines connecting them to their non-Amish neighbors. Other technological advances are evaluated on an individual basis to see if the advance can be used without disrupting the balance between profit, hard work, and community. For this reason, the Amish do not use cars; cars allow one to move far distances from the home.

Another belief of Amish society is distrust for the government. Although the Amish do agree that the government is essential to protect it's people, they do not agree with it's laws. Therefore, they do not accept government support, such as social security, refuse military service, and do not hold political office. However, the Amish do pay taxes and vote. In addition to refusing military service, the Amish do not take advantage of the right to bear arms because of their passive nature.

Amish society has also came into conflict with the government in the area education. The Amish believe that education divides a farmer from his land and that the skills one needs can only be learned by doing. In turn, Amish children attend school only till the 8^th grade, or 14 years old, which ever comes first. In school, they are taught basic skills including the three R's; reading, 'ritting, and 'rithmetic. Traditionally the schools that Amish children attend are either parochial or one room public schools with curriculum designed to meet Amish standards of education.

Community

The reason for the Amish split from the Swiss Anabaptists was a disagreement over the treatment of those whom had left the church. The Amish believed that these people should be ex-communicated, whereas the larger group did not. This basic principle shows the Amish mistrust for outsiders and their unwelcoming attitude towards them. A banned member is not allowed to be contacted by his/her family, not even their husband or wife. This strong desire to keep the outside world away has led the Amish to call outsiders "English", meaning non-Amish. Therefore, to identify outsiders the Amish use a basic form of uniformity within the community; dress. Uniformity in dress emphasizes the basic beliefs of modesty, equality, and valuing the ordinary instead of the special.

The Amish do not believe in the traditional "melting pot" idea. To them this means cultural assimilation, the loss of a culture that binds a community. The preservation of community is so important, that land central to a community is often sold for twice the value while land on the outskirts of a community is sold at value. These communities are also known as church districts. Church districts are made up of 35 families living in a common geographic location who share common beliefs. Each church district has a bishop who serves as the head of the church. In addition to heading religious services, the bishop is the authority the Amish farmer turns to when it is time to make a decision regarding farming. The bishop decides which technology is accepted, and rejected.

Bishops are often shared between church districts, providing for the Amish to have an "on" and "off" Sunday. On an "on" Sunday, the Amish will attend church at a members' home, then have a common meal, visit friends and family, and young people will attend singings. On "off" Sundays, the Amish typically visit neighboring church districts' services, attend Sunday school, rest, and visit.

In addition, church services for weddings may be held on Thursdays. Weddings are very important in Amish society because the family is one's immediate "community". Family is seen as an essential part of life do to scripture which states "go forth and multiply". Family is an investment in the future of one's community and way of life. This is why the Amish typically have 7 to 8 children, do not believe in birth control, but do believe in early marriage. Married men can be identified by their beards since young men will continue to shave until they have married.

Family is also important to share the burden of everyday work. Although the man is considered the head of household, the woman's opinions are respected and defaulted to when the man is away. Men teach their sons to work the fields in preparation for a son's life on his own, with the farm his father has purchased for him. Passing on the farming tradition is a father's greatest task. Mothers teach their daughters homemaking and business skills to prepare for their futures. Elders such as grandparents are revered as wise and often consulted for advice.

Agriculture

Luke 9:62 states, "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." In addition, Genesis 1:28 directs man to replenish the earth and have dominance over animals. The Amish literal interpretation of these passages explains their natural gravitation towards farming. This has been their primary trade since the group's formation. During the Reformation, their prosecution included being driven from the lush valleys to small, poor soil plots. In order to ensure the survival of their community, the Amish had to develop superior farming methods which they keep today.

The Amish believe that a successful farmer is blessed by God and has strength of character. Studies have found that their religious beliefs have actually contributed to their economic performance, while they also place little stress on the land. Perhaps this is because the goal of Amish productivity is to provide for their families and sell what they cannot use. For this reason, the Amish produce a diversity of crops to allow for cushion during times of extreme market price fluctuation. However, diversifying makes their farms less profitable, but maintaining stability at a time when most small farms are in danger. They believe in quality, not quantity, and treasure the land because it will be a legacy passed down throughout generation. Therefore, there is no pressure to pay the mortgage off quickly and excess profits are invested into expanding the family's plot of land. It is because of the revere for the land that the Amish are keenly aware of conservation issues such as water quality and are more willing to take action on such problems to protect the land and their community.

Amish farms are typically eighty to one-hundred acre farms with an average of 84 acres, with a low occurrence of land rental. These are relatively small farms because modern farming equipment, which could make working a larger plot easier, is not permitted by the Amish way of life. For this reason the Amish use horses and mules to pull plows and do other work. Horses and mules allow them to take life at a slower pace and by keeping acreage low, it keeps the family and community close in proximately to each other. However, the Amish do embrace stationary engines and belt power. They have also been known to use diesel engines to run milk coolers and milking machines, mechanical harvesting equipment, stationary tractors, and generators. They may also borrow machinery from neighbors for bigger jobs.

90% of all sales made by the Amish are poultry and livestock, with the exception of Lancaster, Pennsylvania where 30% of sales are from Tobacco. Other products include corn, oats, rye, alfalfa, wheat, fruits, and garden vegetables. The Amish use hybrid and genetically enhanced seeds to increase the quality of their crops. Despite popular belief, the Amish are very receptive to new technology and have in the past even been the inventors of farming innovations. The Amish will use organic pesticides, natural or organic fertilizers, and herbicides. They also use practices such as crop rotation, deep plowing, winter application of manure, and soil testing.

The Amish also face many problems. These include a lack of knowledge, misapplication of manure, fertilizer, and pesticides, poorly maintained and constructed water wells, over-grazing permanent pastures, livestock in streams, stream bank erosion, and contaminated wells. In addition, the Amish lack knowledge in the areas of nutrient management and best management practices. The Amish also face rising land prices due to development plans, forcing youth to obtain employment in place of owning their own farms. When the Amish were asked what they considered their biggest problems to be they cited increased government regulation and industry use of important farmland.

Business is one of the only venues in which the Amish will mix with the outside world. They keep their eye on the market for agricultural commodities, interest rates, and national economic factors. Although they will not seek help from the government, the Amish will consult the Cooperative Extension Service in their state. They also feel that they can trust county agents and agricultural planners. However, they will not accept subsidies.

Methods

The first thing to remember about working with Amish producers is to treat them, and their way of life, with respect. Do this by creating personal relationships with those in the Amish community you will be working with. The best way to work with the Amish is one-on-one because of their limited access to phones, radios, and vehicles. In past studies, informal communication systems have been key in making the Amish alert to conservation issues. Once you have created bonds with members of the community, you will be able to ask them for advance as to how to proceed.

A good way to meet people in the Amish community is to visit an established Amish meeting place and speak on the topic you wish to address. In addition to "Amish" meeting places, the Amish may also be available at estate-planning meetings, Dairy Day, or Crops and Soils Day. Make yourself readily available for answering questions.

Another important thing to remember when working with the Amish is to be respectful of their beliefs and aware of their church district's Ordnung. If there is something that you do not understand about one of their beliefs, ask an Amish friend. A genuine curiosity will most likely be honored. Now that you are familiar with their doctrine, it will be easier to tailor programs to their lives, increasing the likelihood of adoption. Contact and develop a relationship with the Bishop of the church district you are working in. Ultimately, he has the final say in whether a program is conducive to the Amish way of life.

Get the word out about your program by placing articles and ads in magazines that the Amish subscribe to. Some of these include The Budget (Ohio), Die Botschaft (Lancaster), The Diary (Lancaster), Family Life (Ontario), Young Companion (Ontario), and Blackboard Bulletin (Ontario). Amish are thirsty for knowledge about farming practices that will enhance their project so flyers for informational meetings should be hung at workshops, local libraries, and farming related meetings. If these outlets fail, create your own newsletter. In the past, this has been done with great success. Topics should include nutrient management, water quality, management intensive grazing (MIG), integrated pest management, best management practices, marketing, gardening and horticulture, farm safety, agriculture question of the week for young, educational word games and coloring page, and recipes for the Amish women.

When it is time to present a plan to Amish producers, contact the man of the house. He will typically be the one in charge of all farming matters. Remember to use presentation materials such as blackboards, flip charts, posters, and other "low technology" visual aids. If a video or power point presentation is necessary, consult a community authority to get their opinion.