Scenes From Wayne County, Indiana Amish Community

I had the opportunity to spend part of a gorgeous Wednesday afternoon in the bucolic, pastoral Amish settlement north of Richmond, Indiana.  Many of the Amish here still refer to themselves as the "Lancaster County Amish" since most of them moved here from there.  The first families moved to Wayne County in 1994 and now there are a whopping eight church districts.  Most of the Amish still maintain very close ties to family and friends back in Lancaster County.

Rachel and I stopped and Jonas Zook's produce stand on US 35 and managed to snag the last two baskets of strawberries for sale. Aren't these some beauties?

"We could have sold three times as many of these today, we should have picked more," Jonas lamented, watching a few strawberry customers leave empty handed.

"Well have more tomorrow," Mrs. Zook assured the customers.

The Zooks live on 60 acres of land with their 7 children. They sell produce from their stand and at the nearby Wayne County Produce Auction.  Mrs. Zook keeps the home fires burning and tends to some beautiful greenery on the property.  Take a look at these roses.  The arbor was hand-made by Jonas.

The Lancaster County Amish of Wayne County are distinctive from other Indiana Amish. Not 40 miles north is the vastly different Swiss Amish community with their open buggies, yodeling, and language.  The Amish of Wayne County drive distinctive gray topped buggies, observe religious days like Pentecost Monday, and the women's bonnets have a distinctive "double arch."