Greenwald farmer has more than 50 plowing trophies “This is the seed,” said Bernie Nietfeld. He was referring to a photograph of himself and three other local farmers who competed in a 1954 Stearns County plowing contest. It is an apt analogy for a Greenwald farmer whose family has been in the seed business for four generations. Bernie, who incidentally won that 1954 contest, is largely responsible for restoring the official plowing contests on state, national and worldwide l

Part Three: Amish Family & Brotherhood The Amish could be described as believing strongly in God, the Bible, Jesus, family, and community, or brotherhood, much of which has already been delineated in the previous two articles in Sr. Perspective on this Mora Amish family. This article concentrates on family and community, or brotherhood, and with some striking examples of how communities can work together in brotherhood, and will doubtless make many non-Amish families think ab

Part Two: Religion and Education Though some non-Amish question the Amish belief in Christianity, any discussion with the Lambright family in Mora proves those doubts false. Menno Lambright said, “We depend on the blood of Jesus Christ for our salvation,” just like other Christian groups. “To a large extent, we believe the Bible teaches the principle of nonconformity to the world, which most churches don’t, I guess you might say.” Traditional Amish hats sit on a staircase at

Part One: Amish History & Culture Though a trio of articles about the Amish will attempt to delineate different parts of the Amish life-history, culture, religion, education, family, and brotherhood–none of these aspects stand alone, and can’t be truly separated, any more than in the non-Amish world. Pulling into the farmyard near Mora, no automobiles or tractors or haying equipment are visible. Not surprising, as this is an Amish farm, with a team of horses pulling a wagon.