Twenty years ago a new visitors publication appeared in Lancaster County.
It had many features and improvements not seen in the other monthly
visitor guides at that time. But very few businesses wanted to risk ads in
a new “unknown” publication. Luckily, new ownership kept the paper alive
and “Wilkum,” as it was first called, became “Amish Country News.”
Area businesses soon
recognized the quality and value, not to mention the many visitors who
arrived with copies in their hands. Since
then we have grown to become the largest monthly visitor publication in
Amish Country, with free distribution of half a million copies of our
seven issues. Copies of Amish Country News have traveled as far
away as Europe and Japan. A man from Russia even wrote to ask our help in
finding him a wife in America! And we get emails regularly from people who
think they want to become Amish. (We offer them some alternatives.)
There have been many
changes. We created "theme issues" devoted to such topics as Quilts &
Crafts, the Amish, Town of the Month, Special Events, Family-Owned
Businsses, Dining, Family Fun, and Holiday Shopping. Cover stories feature
a more in-depth look at area attractions and businesses. We have had photo
contests and we'll be announcing our 2008 winners soon. We have also asked
local chefs to share their recipes. One especially innovative idea has
been asking a group of local school students to visit attractions and
write about them, from their point of view, for our Family Fun issues.
Publisher's Messages add a different personal perspective to each issue.
And in 2009, we are inviting local friends in the toruist industry to
write about "What I Love About Lancaster County."
Of course, there have been many changes. We created “theme issues” devoted
to such topics as Quilts & Crafts, Towns, Family-Owned Businesses, Special
Events, and Foods & Dining. We have asked local chefs to share their
recipes. One especially innovative idea we had was asking a group of local
school students to visit attractions and write about them for some of our
Family Fun issues.
Our Amish series remains a popular feature, with articles on everything
from Amish nicknames to Christmas customs. Guest writers have included Dr.
Donald Kraybill, one of America’s leading authorities on Amish culture,
whose articles on the Nickel Mines shootings appear in our issues this
year. (When this tragedy occurred, we received over 500 emails and letters
from all over the world, which we presented to an Amish minister to share
with the families.)
The world of publishing
has changed a lot over these years, too. In the beginning, I would go to
the printing company and there would be some forty mock-up pages spread
out in a row 25 feet long. We would cut, peel, paste, and re-position ads
and copy until everything was ready. Then a huge camera would photograph
each page and the "plates" were made to go onto the printing press.
Nowadays, the entire publication is done on a computer, and can be sent in
to the publisher over the internet. When we started, the cover was in
color, and the rest of the paper was blackand white, except for "spot
color" of either red or blue, which cost an additional amount if you
wanted it in your ad. And colors could only be on certain "plates" on the
press. Now the entire paper is in full color and advertisers don't have to
pay extra for it.
Nowadays, the entire publication is in color, done on a computer, and sent
to the printer over the internet.
Shortly after our tenth anniversary because
of so many requests for articles,we
created this simple website where
people can get more information and link to our many advertisers. This has
put us in touch with a wider audience, and also created a useful tool for
everyone from students doing research for reports on the Amish to visitors
planning their activities in advance.
In
these archives you will also find current events, listings, links to our
advertisers, town histories, special feature articles and cover stories,
and just about everything we've ever written.
We have kept our website clean of banner ads and other distractions, so
you can simply go and get your information.
New this year is our plan to have interactive maps so you can plan a visit
or explore shopping possibilities via links to advertiser websites.
Each person who has
worked on our paper has brought new ideas and valuable changes. Graphic
designers, writers, sales staff --- everyone plays a part in making our
paper what it is and our loyal advertisers are why we can print so many
and distribute them free of charge in Lancaster and the surrounding
counties. We even have subscriptions available. We keep trying to improve
our publication. So thanks to everyone who has been a part of Amish
Country News over the past twenty years. And thanks to you, our
readers, for your interest and support.
----Brad Igou
Happy 20th
Anniversary!
