Friday Amish in the News: Mennonites in Missouri, Mennonites in New Mexico, Amish in Vermont, and More!

By Kevin Williams

MENNONITES IN MISSOURI:  This story only interested me because of the "community" aspect of it.  We know that of the three branches of Anabaptists (Hutterites, Amish, and Mennonites) that the Hutterites are the only ones that practice true communal living. But some Amish communities (Pearisburg, Virginia is one that comes to mind) seem to have "communal aspects" such as group decision-making, etc.

Old Order Mennonites in Rich Hill...

I've seen some very conservative Mennonites near Rich Hill, Missouri practice some aspects of communal living.  The particular Mennonite group featured in this article is not ultra-conservative but the aspects of the "community running stores" caught my interest.  I'm not sure if they truly run the stores as a group or not, it's an interesting element of the article that I would have liked to have seen fleshed out a bit more.  Click here to read the article.

Related articles:

RICH HILL, MISSOURI MENNONITES

MORE RICH HILL MENNONITES

MENNONITES IN NEW MEXICO:   I know we have some readers in New Mexico and this is a fascinating bit of news: a Plain Mennonite community has established itself near Deming, about 30 miles north of the Mexico border.  One of the Mennonites in the settlement (see, unlike the above article the Mennonites in this community have self-owned businesses) operates the "Rise N Shine Bakery."  For someone in New Mexico who has never had the opportunity to sample Amish baking, you'll get the same baking style here.  So I'm excited for you if you live in that area! Click here to read about this newly established Mennonite church community.

HUTTERITE FILM:   A filmmaker is visiting the Sioux Falls, South Dakota area to make a documentary film about the Hutterites.  Click here to read more.

Related:  Hopefully that film will be better than the awful NatGeo series about the Hutterites back in 2012!

UPDATE:  MOSES YODER HOUSE:  As a history buff and someone who finds preservation interesting, this story has been interesting.  The oldest known Amish home in Illinois is being restored and preserved and will eventually be turned into a museum and visitors station for people to learn about Illinois Amish culture. The Moses Yoder House was built in 1865 and features a rare two-story front porch (I wish that had been in the pictures, but I couldn't see it).   Anyway, click here for the latest on preservation efforts.

MILLIE'S PINEAPPLE SHEET CAKE:   Let's check in this week with Millie Otto, an Amish columnist in Illinois who offers up a recipe for "Pineapple Sheet Cake."  Click here.

Related Recipe: Chocolate Sheet Cake.

VERMONT AMISH:    There will be a benefit supper to pay medical bills for Lydia Kauffman, an Amish woman in the newly established Vermont Amish settlement near Brownington.   The benefit supper is on June 16 and the entire meal of fresh haddock, baked beans, cold salads, bread, pies and beverages is being prepared by the Amish community.  So this is a wonderful opportunity to raise money for a good cause and have an Amish meal.  Click here for details.