Can this political group get the Amish to vote for Trump? – BBC News

👨🏻‍🦰 WHO AM I? I’m Drew Binsky and I have been to EVERY country in the world (197/197). I make documentaries about interesting people and cultures in faraway places. My ultimate goal is to inspire you to travel because I think it’s the best education that you can get. And our planet is beautiful!

In this eye-opening story, I explore the lives of the Swartzentruber Amish – the most conservative subgroup of Old Order Amish. They arguably lead the most conservative, traditional lives of any humans on our planet. I gotta say, even after visiting all 197 countries in the world, I found the Swartzentruber Amish to be among the most fascinating groups of people I’ve come in contact with. And it’s in my own country!

Through my friend Lizzie,

A former Swartzentruber Amish who grew up in Holmes County, Ohio, I gained rare access to this secluded community that is off-limits to outsiders. Join me as we learn first-hand from the Swartzentruber Amish, as well as get a deep dive into Lizzie’s childhood as she remembers it. Nowadays, Lizzie is an incredible entrepreneur and runs her own business in the health & wellness industry.

You can follow her journey on the links below:

Did the Amish vote for Trump? Oh yes.

Here’s a little more information on the Swartzentruber Amish:

They are renowned for their extreme adherence to tradition and rejection of modern conveniences. They maintain the strictest rules regarding technology, shunning electricity, indoor plumbing, and even bicycles. Their church services are marathon-like, often lasting up to six hours, emphasizing their deep spiritual devotion to God. What makes the Swartzentruber Amish even more fascinating and shocking is their commitment to living without modern healthcare, relying solely on traditional remedies and community support. They also practice rigorous schooling and they complete education at the 8th grade, focusing instead on practical skills and Amish traditions.

The Swartzentruber Amish are one of the largest and most conservative subgroups of Old Order Amish.^[1] The Swartzentruber Amish are considered a subgroup of the Old Order Amish, although they do not fellowship or intermarry with more liberal Old Order Amish. They speak Pennsylvania German as their mother tongue as well as English (with outsiders).

History

The Swartzentruber Amish formed as a result of a division that occurred among the Amish of Holmes County, Ohio, in the years 1913–1917. The bishop who broke away was Sam E. Yoder. The Swartzentruber name was applied later, named after bishop Samuel Swartzentruber who succeeded him.^[2]

In 1932, a split among the Swartzentrubers resulted in the formation of the Troyer Amish in Wayne County, Ohio.^[2]

In the early 1980s, several church districts in Minnesota, Tennessee, and Ohio split from the Swartzentruber church districts elsewhere because of disagreements over shunning (“Bann und Meidung”). This group, known as the “Jeck Jeckey Leit”, is now affiliated with the Nebraska Amish.^[2]

In the 1990s, two more splits occurred, resulting in three Swartzentruber Amish groups: the main Joe Troyer group; the Mose Miller/Isaac Keim group; and the Andy Weaver group. The Swartzentruber Andy Weaver group should not be confused with the Old Order Andy Weaver group. In this three-way split, the Andy Weaver group is the most conservative, while the Joe Troyer group is at the other end of the spectrum, leaving the Mose Miller group somewhere in between.^[2]

10 Practices That Reveal a Different Side of Amish Life

Customs and technology

Riding in cars is prohibited among the Swartzentruber Amish, except in emergencies, whereas average Old Order Amish are allowed to use cars as long as they do not own them. Swartzentrubers are the most restrictive concerning the use of technologies among all Amish affiliations:

Affiliation^[3]	Tractor for fieldwork	Roto-tiller	Power lawn mower	Propane gas	Bulk milk tank	Mechanical milker	Mechanical refrigerator	Pickup balers	Inside flush toilet	Running water bath tub	Tractor for belt power	Pneumatic tools	Chain saw	Pressurized lamps	Motorized washing machines
Swartzentruber	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Some	No	No	Yes
Nebraska	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Some	No	No	No	No	Some	No	Yes
Swiss (Adams)	No	No	Some	No	No	No	No	No	Some	No	No	Some	Some	Some	Some
Buchanan/ Medford	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Some	No	Yes	Yes
Danner	No	No	No	Some	No	No	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
Geauga I	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Some	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Holmes Old Order	No	Some	Some	No	No	No	Some	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Elkhart-LaGrange	No	Some	Some	Some	Some	Some	Some	Some	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Lancaster	No	No	Some	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Nappanee	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Kalona	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Percentage of use by all Amish	6	20	25	30	35	35	40	50	70	70	70	70	75	90	97

18 False Myths About the Amish We Need to Stop Believing

The Swartzentruber style of dress tends to be heavier and plainer, especially in the case of women; only the Nebraska Amish dress in a more conservative style. Swartzentruber church services tend to be longer, even up to four hours.^[4]

Like some other Old Order groups, they avoid the use of electricity and indoor plumbing. Many other common devices and technologies are also disallowed for being too worldly, including Velcro and bicycles. Swartzentruber farms and yards are often unkept. The Swartzentrubers discourage interest in outward appearance, as such an interest could promote vanity and pride. Their farms can be identified by dirt drives and surrounding roads, while most roads of the Old Order contain either gravel or paving to keep out the mud. The roofs of the houses and outbuildings are often made of tin. The clothing differs from that of the other Old Order Amish in subtle ways: all colors are dark and somber rather than the bright blues and mauves; more common is navy, dark burgundy, and even gray. The dresses of the women, rather than reaching mid-calf, usually reach to the top of the shoes. The brims on the hats of Swartzentruber men are four inches (10 cm) wide, wider than the brims of more liberal affiliations.

The tack on the horses and buggies is often all black, rather than brown leather. Swartzentruber Amish use reflective tape on the back of their buggies, in place of bright triangular “slow moving” signs for road travel, which they regard as too worldly.

These buggies will also use lanterns, rather than battery-operated lights or reflectors.^[5] The lanterns are also often staggered, one side slightly higher than the other, so as not to appear like the tail lights of a vehicle. There have been several court cases across the country where the state and county challenged the local Swartzentruber group to use the regulation orange triangle.

So far, even as far as the federal Supreme Court, the Amish have prevailed, although statistics suggest that in areas where these groups exist, accidents involving buggies are more prevalent.^{[citation needed]}

On September 13, 2011 (13 years ago), nine Old Order Swartzentruber men were jailed for not paying a fine for refusing to display an orange reflective triangle on their horse-drawn carriages.^[6]

Swartzentruber Amish normally do not allow teenagers to leave the community during rumspringa,^[7]^[8] although most of them allow teenagers to “court” in order to find a marriage partner, which includes hugging in a bed while being fully clothed and rocking in a chair together.^[9]^[10]^[11]

Population and Church districts

As with other conservative affiliations, the Swartzentruber tend to have more children than the average Old Order Amish. In one sample that Kraybill et al. give, the average number of children born to Swartzentruber women was 9.3. Combined with a high rate of retention concerning their youth, the Swartzentruber have one of the highest growth rates among all Old Order Amish. Between 1991 and 2010 the number of church districts grew from 38 to 103, a growth of 171 percent.^[12]

In 1936 there were three Swartzentruber church districts and in 1957, five, with approximately 200 families.^[2] In 1944 a settlement was founded in Ethridge, Tennessee, which had ten church districts around 2013 with a population of 1,520 people. It is the largest Amish settlement in the South.^[13] The settlement near Lodi and Homerville, Ohio, which was founded in 1952 had 14 church districts around 2013 with a population of 2,148 people. In 1975 the settlement near Heuvelton, New York, was founded, that had 12 church districts around 2013 with a population of 1,671 people.

As of 2000, the Swartzentruber Amish had 64 districts, 3,165 members, a total population of 7,101 in 12 states with 33 districts in Ohio alone.^[14] There are nineteen districts of Swartzentruber in Holmes County and Wayne County, where the subgroup originated. The Swartzentruber share of the Old Order Amish is about 7 percent.^[15] As of 2011 there were 119 Swartzentruber Amish church districts and 43 settlements in 13 states of the US as well as in Ontario, Canada.

Etymology

Swartzentruber is a Mennonite and Amish surname of Swiss origin, coming from the Trub river valley, located approximately midway between Bern and Lucerne. It has been thought to mean “seller of black grapes”.^[16] Other English spellings of the name include Schwartzentruber, Swartzendruber, Schwartzendruber, Schwarzentruber, and Schwarztrauber. #usa #travel #ohio

38 Beliefs And Ways Of Life the Amish Strictly Follow

Inside The Amish Family

The Amish family is the foundation of the Amish way of life. The family structure and traditions that seem to be taken from a page out of history, have remained an integral part of the Amish culture.

This is not by accident. They have an unwritten blueprint for Amish living called the Ordnung that guides them through all the details of everyday life.

To us, these rules might seem extremely legalistic. But the Amish consider the Ordnung to be a sacred trust that separates them from the outside world.

It binds them together in their quest for eternal salvation and creates a desire for unity and conformity. When its members live together, work together, worship together and socialize together, the Amish family is made stronger.

The Marriage Relationship

The Amish family is traditionally farming based. As leader of the family, the man makes all the major decisions in regard to the family, farm, and household. The Amish marriage ceremony directs the bride to be submissive to her husband.

Of course marriage is a partnership so the degree to which the husband includes his wife in the decision making process varies from family to family. As with any human relationship, the attitude of the each partner probably determines how much weight the husband gives to his wife’s input.

The man is the primary breadwinner of the Amish family.

In the past the Amish family income was produced on the farm. For nearly 300 years the Amish man has tilled the soil to produce crops and livestock for a living. Most Amish still prefer this lifestyle today.

But in recent decades, the scarcity of affordable farmland has forced many Amish men to seek alternative means of producing income. In some areas, less than half the men farm for a living.

The best alternative to farming is a cottage industry that allows the man to work at home. Businesses such as:

Bakery
Cabinet shop
Furniture manufacturing shop
Engine repair shop
Greenhouse Bookstore
Dry goods store
Harness and leather goods shop
Clock and watch repair shop
Sawmill

A home business keeps the father close to the home. The traditional Amish family depends on having both the parents available to supervise and train the children.

Every family member is indoctrinated into the Amish lifestyle beginning at the earliest age. The home shop, like the farm, becomes a learning laboratory where the children can observe and learn while helping to produce income for the family.

Other possible occupations include the trades. Working in the building industry is a popular choice for many. Carpentry, plumbing, roofing and other trades where the man can work for himself, are considered compatible with the Amish culture.

Working in a factory is the least desirable form of occupation. It is considered a threat to the Amish family. So the church encourages farming or home business whenever possible.

The mother is in charge of running the household.

The Amish woman must be an excellent manager. The efficiency of an Amish family depends upon the skill of the mother in many areas.

She is the head cook and seamstress. The garden is also the mother’s realm. A productive garden is a great asset to the family since Amish food is home grown, when possible.

Mom oversees child care, cleaning, yard work, laundry and food preservation. She might make crafts to sell at a roadside stand. In addition to all that, she often helps with barn chores and harvesting.

She will have help from the older girls. A young Amish girl is expected to hone her skills at running the household so she will be fully prepared when her time comes to run a household of her own.

Amish women make most of the clothing in for the family. Clothes are very plain and of usually solid colors, which is why the Amish are often referred to as plain people. Even Amish wedding dresses are handmade.

Grandparents remain a vital part of the family.

When the grandparents pass the farm down to one of their children, they usually continue to live on the farm in a house that is attached to the main house or in a nearby separate house.

Though retired, the grandparents continue to help with chores and contribute to the family in many ways. They might tend a roadside stand to sell food or crafts produced by the family.

17 Common Misconceptions About the Amish That People Need to Stop Believing

The wisdom of the grandparents is a treasured asset to the family.

Their advice is often sought and followed.

Contrary to popular belief, the farm is not always inherited by the oldest child. Usually, the parents are not ready to retire until after their entire family has been raised. Then the empty nest is ready to be occupied by a new family. By this time, the older children might have families of their own and be well established elsewhere.

Since there are many children and there is only one farm to inherit, many Amish homes do not include three generations.

Children are also seen as a valuable asset to the Amish family.

There is an average of six children per household. Very young Amish children are pampered as much as children in the outside world. Until about the age of two, the toddler gets away with some behavior that won’t go uncorrected later. After the age of two, Amish children can expect to be spanked for their lapses in good judgment.

For the most part, their very early years are spent playing and interacting with their siblings. Amish toys are very simple and of course, non-electrical.

By the age of five, Amish children are performing simple chores in the house or around the barn. Their workload is increased as they develop the required strength and skills.

The Amish family needs the additional labor of its children. Working on a farm the children get a feeling of accomplishment and actually see the important contribution they are making to their family. They are instilled with the work ethic that prepares them for their life in the Amish community.

Having a large family is also valued by the church because growth comes almost entirely from within. There are very few converts to the Amish religion because outsiders are not equipped to cope with the psychological and physical rigors of Amish life.

Down time

The Amish family works every day. On Sunday, they milk and feed the livestock and any other chores that must be done daily. They then go to church services which are held on alternating Sundays. A light lunch is served after the service. Then the afternoon is spent socializing.

On the “off” Sundays, they visit other families or just stay home and rest. The Amish observe Christmas, Thanksgiving, Pentecost Easter and Ascension Day as a part of their Amish culture and traditions.

The Amish enjoy gathering at occasions such as weddings and auctions. They also enjoy getting together to help their neighbors on occasions like a barn-raising which they might refer to as a frolic.

When a family settles in a new home…

…they usually stay there for life. This is especially true if they settle close to their extended families. If you include both sets of parents and six married siblings with families, there might be eighty to one hundred immediate relatives nearby.

When you add aunts and uncles all with their own extended families, the number of relatives balloons out to hundreds. All these close connections to relatives are a tremendous incentive to stay put.

As the couple grows old, their children will be married and produce thirty to fifty grandchildren of their own and the cycle starts over. Once again, this shows why the large Amish family is such a great asset to the community.

Trouble in Paradise

A problem has surfaced over the last couple of decades. It would seem that the large family has become a threat to the Amish way of life. As population increases in and around the Amish settlements, farmland is becoming scarce.

Even if a young Amish family can find an available farm, they will probably find the price of the land beyond their reach. This poses a potentially devastating problem for the Amish family. Faced with this threat to its very survival, this society must look beyond its traditional farming based culture for other ways to support their Amish life. Many have started cottage industries or become tradesmen.

Others have opted for factory work, a choice that could also threaten the traditional Amish family. Working in the outside world exposes them to worldly culture.

Working beside non-Amish, often both men and women can influence the Amish man’s point of view. The fact that he can make so much money working only forty hours a week, might tend to make him look at the Amish life in a different, less desirable light.

The father is also away from home during the day and cannot supervise his children. The Amish family is grounded in having the father readily available at home.

Children learn by watching. The father’s absence denies the children a vital role model that teaches the work ethic needed to sustain the rigorous Amish life.

The Amish continue to survive and prosper.

Despite these threats, the Amish population is thriving. It continues to almost double every twenty years. As of 2008 there were nearly 230,000 Amish.

The influence of the trend toward a post agricultural lifestyle may eventually change the fundamental identity of the Amish family. Based on Ohio’s age-adjusted rate, the total degree of cancer for the Amish is 60%. Additionally, the overall rate of cancer among the Amish makes up 56% of the countrywide rate. Due to their conservative beliefs, Amish people do not partake in Alcohol or tobacco. As the Amish turn more toward Carpenter work and Tourism they see their cancer rates are in the rise…

But for now, the Amish family is alive and well.

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