Business Owners Stand Up For Amish During Village Meeting

By Natalie Bruzon
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Orchard’s village council meetings are usually quiet and low in attendance, but Monday night’s meeting opened with more than 10 community members sitting in the audience. 

Many local business owners attended the meeting to make a statement regarding the importance of the Amish community to Orchard’s economy. 

The statement, presented by John Ferguson and read by his daughter Laura Ferguson, was met by approval from other business owners in the audience. 

“We have been informed that recently the Amish community was served by the sheriff’s office for horse manure violations,” read Ferguson. “This action, coupled with the physical stalking and confrontation of a respected Amish woman who was leaving town, has resulted in a reasonable, necessary response by the local Amish community. This response is to avoid further harassment by removing all business from the Orchard community.”

As the statement made clear, the lumber yard relies on the business of the Amish to stay open, and the closing of this business could be the beginning of a slippery slope for other businesses in town. 

“The lumber yard doesn’t run on its own with no cause and effect from other businesses,” read Ferguson from the statement. “The success of TJ’s Market, Dusty’s, Lazy T, Bank of Orchard and other entities in Orchard adds to our viability, just as our existence adds to theirs. A large proportion of core businesses in Orchard rely on the Amish community for significant sales. In the case of the lumber yard, it would be devastating and cause our closure.”

When Laura Ferguson had concluded reading the statement, John Ferguson clarified that the Amish had personally come to their business and stated that they would no longer do business with them because of what they perceive as harassment from the community. 

Not all of the community members present came to support the statement. Marian Schacht said she agreed that the manure was a valid issue.

“I think that we’re only asking them to do one thing,” Schacht said.

Stephanie Cleveland brought the board’s attention to what a town without a grocery store would be like.  The town the Cleveland’s previously called home in New York didn’t always have one. 

“We drove 24 miles to a grocery store,” said Cleveland. “If I forgot lettuce when I was at the grocery and I suddenly realized, ‘Huh, we were going to have this for dinner but I don’t have lettuce,’ there was no grocery store in town. You’re talking half an hour. So I just want you to think about that. Is this something that’s every single day, every buggy that comes in is doing it? Or is it happening once in awhile? … What we’re saying is, can someone from the village go up to them (the Amish) and remind them (about the ordinance) before we send the sheriff up there.”

Village Clerk Brenda Harrison responded that she has sent various letters out to the Amish community asking them to bag their horses, but the horse manure issue continues. 

“This is where I’m going to tell you what I’ve done in my job,” said Harrison, addressing the audience. “I’ve written letters, we have talked to them, we have asked them, we have pleaded with them, so the next step was to involve (Sheriff) Bob (Moore). It’s not like out of the blue we sent Bob out there. You guys are saying that they feel harassed, but we’ve asked them. Before this ordinance was ever put into play, we took every step we could to communicate what we wanted out of them. And there’s been no response. No, ‘Yes, we’ll try to do that,’ and no improvement.”

Schaut said she understands the businesses concerns. “I don’t want to lose them either, but is it too much to ask that they abide by the rules?” 

Laura and John Ferguson clarified that perhaps the issue was with how the Amish were approached — by sending the sheriff. And, a new community leader has recently come into the Amish community. 

“If there’s a new person in charge,” said Curt Mitteis, “we have not talked to that new person in charge.”
Ferguson agreed and said, I do think that’s some of what’s happened.” 

John Ferguson agreed to set up a meeting with the Amish community leaders and Orchard’s city council, where both parties can talk about the issue and clarify any misunderstandings. 
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Also at the meeting the board discussed new ways of maintaining road quality in town, as less funds come in from the county.