Amish community plans April 18 haystack supper in Emblem

Several Amish families in the Emblem area are planning a haystack supper on Friday, April 19, to raise money for the construction of a new school.

David Yutzy, who moved to the area last July from Ohio, said the event will double as an opportunity to share one of their traditional meals with the community.

In the Amish community, haystack suppers are very common. They are often served buffet-style, which allows each person to customize their plate according to their preferences. 

“Stack it how you like it,” reads the promotional flyer, which lists as ingredients Ritz crackers, hamburger, mashed potatoes, lettuce, cauliflower, eggs, cheese, melted cheese, Doritos and more — with homemade ice cream for dessert.

The all-you-can-eat supper will run from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Emblem School. There is no entry fee if you dine in; donations will be accepted, however.  A $15 fee will apply for carry-out service.

More on the group

Yutzy said he was drawn to this area because he loves the West, and Wyoming is a lot more conservative than Ohio, where he, his wife and their three children were living.

Since their arrival, they’ve been joined by a couple with six kids, a couple with five kids and a bachelor, who relocated here from Colorado.

They work in a variety of trades. Yutzy owns a construction company, one of the men sells lumber and mini barns and another is a blacksmith who shoes horses.

Their goal is to build a schoolhouse, but instead of simply asking for donations, they want to provide something in return. Their plan is to hold monthly haystack dinners on the second Friday of every month.

“Come out and enjoy the food,” said Yutzy. “We’ll have a lot of tables set up for people to come in, sit down, have a good outing and visit.

“We’ll have our business cards, too, so if someone wants to know what the Amish do and what they have to offer, that will be a good opportunity.”

For more information, contact Yutzy at 307-372-9884.