AMAZING SADDLES Just behind the leather shop, Simon’s son Alvin Brenneman owns Brenneman’s Saddlery. He specializes in custom made saddles. Alvin moved here two years ago from Kentucky with his wife and eight children. He has been working in the saddle business since 2004, and is basically self-taught. He began working for his dad in the leather shop repairing saddles, and learned to build them. “I came here looking for better farming opportunities,” Alvin said. Currently he does custom grazing, but within the next year plans to start a dairy herd. He averages making about 25 saddles per year. “Each saddle takes approximately one week to make, if it is a basic saddle.” Alvin said. He also has the tools to do custom tooling on the saddles and added, “If there is lots of tooling to be done, it takes up to three weeks.” He went on to add that he uses sheep wool for the under pad of the saddles.
The Amish are Anabaptist in faith. They speak only German at home, and most children learn English as their second language. They have church services every other Sunday, and rotate services from home to home. Off service Sundays are spent as family time, resting, reading the Bible, visiting churches in other communities, or visiting others in the community. The buggies are used for local travel, but for long distances, they employ non-Amish “taxi drivers”. All the families agreed that this area is beautiful, and the people they have met have been respectful and friendly. They welcome anyone to come to their places of business and shop, look around or just stop in to say hello. “My plans are to stay here,” Alvin said. “This is a great place to live.”
BRENNEMAN SADDLE SHOP 617 Val Road, Rocky Comfort 417-628-3652 Alvin Brenneman, owner
INDIAN CREEK LEATHER 521 Val Road, Rocky Comfort West on 76, North on Val Road ½ mile on left. 417-628-3906 Simon Brenneman, owner
YODER’S FABRIC SHOP (and fresh milk) West on 76 past Rocky Comfort, North on Woodchuck Road, go ½ mile, then East on Harvest Road, 1st house on left. 417-652-7096 Maynard Yoder, owner
ROCKY ACRES PRODUCE 528 College St. Rocky Comfort 417-652-3319 Joe Borntreger, owner
LIL DUTCHY’S GREENHOUSE 456 Thor Road, Simco West on 76, then South on Thor Road ¼ mile. Joe Miller, owner August • September 2015 | 53