Amish is Hot!
Trotter Brings $1.375 Million At Ohio Amish Sale
MAY, 2022, MT. HOPE AMISH STANDARDDBRED SALE
By Tim Finley
Unfortunately, I was not one of the approximate 10,000 people in attendance at the 158 Standardbred 2022 Memorial Trotting Sale May 27th, 2022, in Mt Hope, OH.
Originally from that area of Ohio, I am now living in South Florida, but I have a long history with business and friendships with the Ohio Amish.
Viewing began Friday morning at 6:00 am and then at 8:30 a display of the driving began. Auctioning of the horses began at 1:00 pm.
Amish food could be purchased and enjoyed, plus vendor booths highlighted Amish products for sale.
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A M I S H I S H O T
By Tim Finley
Their “plain clothing” is one of the reasons the Amish have merited the name “The Plain People.” Plain, when referring to people, means having no pretensions; not remarkable or special. Although the Amish appear plain, it certainly does not mean they lack brainpower, are uneducated, boring, or poverty stricken. In fact, most are quite the opposite.
Old Order Amish live in 31 states, 4 Canadian provinces, and 2 South American countries. Approximately 325,000 Amish people reside in the U.S. The largest Amish population of 76,000 live in Pennsylvania. The following, copied from amishamerica.com, lists the largest Amish communities in America:
1. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (36,920 people; 220 church districts; founded c. 1760) – The best-known, oldest, and most-visited Amish settlement in the world. Known for its annual schedule of mud sales which benefit local volunteer fire companies. The most common Amish surname here is “Stoltzfus“. This community includes churches in neighboring Chester and York Counties.
2. Holmes County, Ohio (35,130; 274; 1808) – Holmes County and Lancaster County are nearly the same size, and by some estimates Holmes County has been considered larger in the past. In contrast to Lancaster County, this community is one of the most diverse, with around a dozen Amish affiliations, from the most conservative to progressive Amish represented here.
3. Elkhart & Lagrange Counties, Indiana (24,205; 181; 1841) – Amish in Northern Indiana are known for their RV production. It’s a generally progressive community which has gotten attention for challenges within the youth community. Home of the Connection magazine, the Shipshewana Mayfest Buggy Race, and the Pumpkinvine Trail.
4. Geauga County, Ohio (18,650; 132; 1886) – This large community east of Cleveland is often overlooked due to its proximity to the Holmes County settlement 90 minutes south. Home of the Geauga Amish Historical Library and loads of old-style ice machines found throughout the community. One of the big four Amish locations; after Geauga County, the next largest settlements drop off significantly in size.
5. Adams County, Indiana (8,595; 58; 1840) – The largest “Swiss” Amish settlement (Swiss Amish have different customs and speak a different German dialect than most other Amish). Covered buggies recently appeared in this community, in contrast to the traditional open buggies characteristic of Swiss communities.
6. Nappanee, Indiana (5,910; 43; 1842) – Centered around the town of Nappanee, this community is a stone’s throw from the Elkhart & Lagrange settlement. RV work is also common here. Nearby you will find a community of Old Order Mennonites.
7. Daviess County, Indiana (4,855; 29; 1868) – This southern Indiana settlement has a deep-fried flavor to it immediately noticeable in the local drawl (described by one observer as “Swiss Amish with a hillbilly accent”). Dinky’s auction house is a popular Friday destination for locals.
8. Arthur, Illinois (4,410; 30; 1864) – This community around the small town of Arthur is Illinois’s largest settlement by far. Here you’ll find Amish-owned Roselen’s Coffee & Delights, though the Rockome Gardens attraction is now closed.
9. “Big Valley”, Pennsylvania (3,905; 30; 1791) – This settlement in Mifflin County in central PA is located in what is formally known as Kishacoquillas Valley, though if you ever visit you’ll quickly see why it has its nickname of “Big”. The roughly 30-mile long, 5-mile wide valley is home to three distinct Amish groups – Byler, Renno, and Nebraska Amish.
10. Allen County, Indiana (3,190; 22; 1852) – Another Indiana Swiss Amish settlement. As in other Swiss locations, particular surnames are prevalent here, such as Graber, Lengacher, and Schwartz. Allen County stands out visually for its large number of brick homes and common use of solar and wind power.
11. Smicksburg, Pennsylvania (2,985; 21; 1962) – Along with Seymour, MO, this community found in Indiana County in western PA is by far the youngest on this list, suggesting relatively rapid growth. Here you’ll find the Midwest-style black buggy.
12. Seymour, Missouri (2,665; 16; 1968) – A conservative community with Swiss Amish roots. The Seymour Amish recently faced a whooping cough outbreak.
(If we extended this list, we would include communities like Munfordville, Kentucky; New Wilmington, Pennsylvania; Conewango Valley, New York and Cashton, Wisconsin.)
Raised in Massillon, Ohio, which borders what is known as Amish country, I was an avid squirrel hunter, spending spent many fall days hunting in the beautiful huge woods which sprawl the countryside on Amish farms.
Fascinated by the Amish lifestyle, I sought the friendship of these folks cloaked in black. I found them to be warm and welcoming. A curious sort, I was not shy in asking them various questions regarding their unusual and antiquated lifestyle. They were very willing to accept my friendship, and to answer my questions. Following is an overview of what I discovered.
Transportation for the Amish is usually by horse and buggy, although they will use motorized transportation if necessary. They do not have electricity or telephones in their homes, yet many have accepted cell phones as emergency forms of communication. Cell phones are usually kept in the barn or workshop. Before cell phones, back when I was a stockbroker, I had several Amish clients who would go to the village payphone and call me to make their stock market investments.
Although they seem somewhat odd to us English (they refer to non-Amish as The English), they are remarkably similar in their personalities as those of us who are not a part of their cluster. They are intelligent, humorous, kind, and many are wealthy. They do not believe wealth is a sin. However, they will share their wealth within their community with those who need assistance.
Amish generally observe the teachings of Jacob Ammann, a 17th-century citizen of Switzerland. Those who followed Ammann became known as Amish, which is a Christian Protestant denomination. In the second half of the 19th century, the Amish divided into Old Order Amish and Amish Mennonites. Just like most faiths, there are many differences within these faiths regarding what is a rule, and what is a personal choice. For instance, some Amish smoke and drink alcohol, while others believe those practices to be unpleasant and perhaps immoral. Usually, Amish adhere to the saying, “birds of a feather flock together.”
The Amish, most who reside in the United States, practice unworldly customs and they refuse to take oaths, vote, or perform military service. As time changes, an increasing number of Amish do vote. Most vote Conservative, some have even been spotted at candidate rallies in recent elections.
Although they avoid modern technology and conveniences when possible most are willing to bend the rules under certain circumstances. I once accompanied a family in their horse-drawn family buggy when they went to the local general store where they rented a deep freezer – one of dozens lining the basement floor – all rented to Amish families in the community. Yes, they utilize electricity, but not on their farms. Wringer washing machines are driven by small gasoline engines located just outside their homes.
The men usually wear beards and pants with buttons instead of zippers. The women wear white head coverings and plain dresses, usually without buttons.
The Amish came to the United States in search of religious freedom, as did many people. In Europe, in the 16th century, there was an Anabaptist movement.
The name Anabaptist means “one who baptizes again”. Anabaptists believe that water baptism is valid only when candidates freely confess their faith in Christ and request to be baptized. Believer’s baptism does not recognize baby water baptism as being effectual because infants are not able to make a conscious decision accept Jesus as one’s savior. Anabaptists believe it is faith in Jesus Christ that saves one’s soul (aka The New Covenant).
The Amish, Hutterites, and Mennonites are direct descendants of the early Anabaptist movement.
Anabaptists affirm that water baptism does not save a person. It does not matter if you were baptized by immersion, pouring, or sprinkling because if you have not first trusted in Christ for salvation, baptism (no matter the method) is meaningless and useless. Water baptism by immersion is a step of obedience to be done after salvation as a public profession of faith in Christ and identification with Him.
The following was taken from Wikipedia. I have posted them so you can see the differences.
• The Old Order Amish, who live in rural communities in North America and are famous for their plain dress and limited use of technology. The group emerged from the split into Old Order Amish and Amish Mennonites in the decades after 1862.
• The Amish Mennonites, a broad term used for churches that emerged from the split after 1862 and later mostly became Mennonites with few exceptions, the most notably being the Kauffman Amish Mennonites.
• The Egly Amish, more Evangelical than the other Amish, had already withdrawn from the Amish church in 1858. They soon drifted away from the old ways and changed their name to “Defenseless Mennonite” in 1908, to “Evangelical Mennonite Church” in 1942, and then to “Fellowship of Evangelical Churches” in 2003.
• The Stuckey Amish (Mennonites) of Illinois, more progressive than the Amish Mennonites, emerged from a split in 1872, organized as a conference in 1899 and joined the General Conference Mennonite Church as a district conference in 1945. In 1957 they merged with the Middle District Conference to form the Central District of the General Conference Mennonite Church.
• The Conservative Amish Mennonite Conference, that emerged in 1910 among Amish congregations that took no side in the split after 1862. They dropped the word “Amish” from their name in 1957. They were more liberal than the Old Orders but more conservative than the Amish Mennonites.
• The Beachy Amish, a car driving group with a few restrictions on technologies. In many aspects they resemble Conservative Mennonites. They emerged from the Old Orders in a process that started in 1927.
• The New Order Amish, a plain dress, horse and buggy group, formed in 1966, that is more liberal concerning technologies than most Old Order Amish. Some of them use electricity in the home. They do not practice shunning.
The Old Order Amish, the New Order Amish, and the Old Beachy Amish as well as Old Order Mennonites continue to speak Pennsylvania German, also known as “Pennsylvania Dutch”.
As of 2010, approximately 250,000 Old Order Amish lived in the United States and about 1,500 lived in Canada.
Amish church membership begins with baptism, usually between the ages of 16 and 23. It is a requirement for marriage within the Amish church. Once a person is baptized within the church, he or she may marry only within the faith. Church districts have between 20 and 40 families and worship services are held every other Sunday in a member’s home. The district is led by a bishop and several ministers and deacons. The Amish value rural life, manual labor, and humility, all under the auspices of living what they interpret to be God’s word.
The Amish typically operate their own one-room schools and discontinue formal education after grade eight, at age 13 or 14. Until the children turn 16, they have vocational training under the instruction of their parents. Higher education is generally discouraged because it can lead to community segregation.
Furthermore, to avoid community segregation, the Amish all dress similar so that there is no prideful or stylish separation.
A growing number of Amish men have left farm work and started small businesses because of increasing pressure on small farmers. Though a wide variety of small businesses exists among the Amish, construction work and woodworking are common.
In the early 1970’s I asked for bids from many contractors to build a new horse barn on my Delaware, Ohio, property. Most bids went to contractors outside of the Amish community, but I did invite a recommended Mennonite contractor to bid. His price was 30% lower than the others, and his workmanship was extraordinary.
Intrigued by this rising sect of people who play a huge role in Standardbred racing, we are going to devote this entire section to what is going on in the Amish communities.
Amish excitement. We believe that most people throughout the U.S. do not realize the huge influence and participation the Amish, and their more liberal counterparts, have in the sport of Standardbred racing.
Approximately 325,000 Old Order Amish people reside in 31 U.S. states. This does not include the more liberal Amish, Mennonites, and those with Amish roots who have left the allegiance. They are very splintered, having 2,200 church groups in 500 communities.
For approximately a year, we have been putting our ducks in a row to begin a major Amish information website which will enlighten those who are intrigued by these communities of plain people cloaked in black, which includes a major portion devoted to their involvement in the sport of Standardbred racing and breeding.
Standardbred racing has had a poor overall public image for many years and for many reasons, one which was distrust of the people involved. Paradoxically, the Amish, as a people, have a very respected image. Their image can be handily utilized to entice people into becoming enthused about our sport.
If you would like to be involved in this exciting new adventure by advertising, endorsing, investing, or being a partner in an Amish bred or trained Standardbred, please send us an email at harnessracingaction@gmail.com.
We have posted videos of Amish races to wet your whistle.
June 13, 2021, Newsletter
G U E S S H O W M U C H ?
B y T i m F i n l e y
The Amish have been a factor in the Standardbred trade for years, but until about a decade ago their involvement was just a fraction of the racing and breeding business. The Amish were known for buying Standardbreds to power their buggies – horsepower.
That was then, and this is now. As astute businessmen, with rising racing purses and Standardbred sale prices, the Amish recognized they could and should be a major player in the sport. It is logical – they have the knowledge of the Standardbred and the land needed for breeding farms, etc. They are dominating the hills of the Midwest, and there is gold in them there hills. They have been rewarded.
I was raised near Millersburg, Ohio, the Amish capitol of Ohio, so became personal friends with many of these shadowy folks cloaked in black. My first racehorse, in the early 1970’s, had been pulling an Amish buggy for the family of a friend. I knew nothing about Standardbreds, but my Amish friend told me this horse had speed and it could do well racing. That sounded exciting, so I wrote a check for half, and made money in my newfound sport. I was hooked.
The Amish have been a factor in the Standardbred trade for years, but until about a decade ago their involvement was just a fraction of the racing and breeding business. The Amish were known for buying Standardbreds to power their buggies – horsepower.
Because of my decades of involvement with the Amish and Mennonites, I have closely followed their recent bursting involvement in the Standardbred business. I recently watched the selling of a Standardbred at one of their auctions via the Internet. WOW!
On May 29, 2021, a bay 3-year-old, unraced, Standardbred stallion, by the name Majestic Monarch was sold at the Mt. Hope, Ohio, auction. Majestic Monarch is by the late prolific Kadabra stallion Ozzy Ozzy (4, 1:55S, $87,319), who died in November 2020, and is out of the unraced Crème De La Crème (Armbro Tunnel) mare. According to USTA records, Crème De La Crème had
On May 29, 2021, a bay 3-year-old, unraced, Standardbred stallion, by the name Majestic Monarch was sold at the Mt. Hope, Ohio, auction. Majestic Monarch is by the late prolific Kadabra stallion Ozzy Ozzy (4, 1:55S, $87,319), who died in November 2020, and is out of the unraced Crème De La Crème (Armbro Tunnel) mare. According to USTA records, Crème De La Crème had three foals, but none raced. Majestic Monarch was bred by Vern H. Miller in Sullivan, Illinois.
So, how much did he fetch? Here is the video.
June 13, 2021, Newsletter
I hope you enjoyed this little tidbit. Remember, you saw it here and not on another harness racing website. COMING SOON NOTICE: Intrigued by this rising sect of people who play a huge role in Standardbred racing, we are going to devote an entire section of this website to what is going on in the Amish communities. I think you will find them quite likeable. A brief overview of who they are, where they live, what they believe, and what they do is revealed in the following article titled THE AMISH.
