250 Amish Men Pick Up And Move Barn In Minutes With Their Bare Hands

Nov 18, 2022

The Amish are a religious group in the U.S. known for their strict belief system, their resistance to modern technology, their particular choice of dress, and their remarkable ability to work together in order to achieve a goal.

Many people are familiar with the phenomenon of the Amish barn-raising when dozens of Amish people get together to build a barn in a single day. The Amish are also known for producing a variety of products, produce, and handicrafts, such as quilts, toys, furniture, and more. 

This unique lifestyle is often only seen in specific regions of the United States, in states where family farming is still possible, like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. In these areas, it's common to see an Amish buggy driving down the road alongside modern cars and semi-trucks. Similarly, Amish schoolhouses and produce stands, neighbor grocery stores and other regular businesses. Amish men, women, and children, regardless of which church they may belong to within the faith, all tend to adhere to a simple wardrobe, often consisting of solid colors, if not black fabric with little to no embellishments. 

Despite this proximity to 7-11s and strip malls, even the more modern sects still prefer self-sufficiency and prioritize humility as well as hard work above other more frivolous things. This avoidance of the comforts and trappings of the era is perhaps helped by the Amish language, known as Pennsylvania Dutch, which is still spoken in some areas in addition to American English.

While this lifestyle choice may seem far-fetched, witnessing the feats the Amish are able to accomplish despite not having the assistance of technology is truly remarkable. One cameraman captured over 250 men moving an entire barn in Ohio using only their bare hands-- managing to complete the task in mere minutes.

Given they aren't able to hire cranes and trucks to simply lift and shift their buildings, the Amish have devised systems which use cumulative strength to do what looks like the impossible. 

Before it can be moved when the barn is still being built, the work is divided up. While the men do the heavy labor involved with constructing the building, the women prepare a feast that will serve as a celebration when the work has been completed. While the men do the heavy labor involved with constructing the building, the women prepare a feast that will serve as a celebration when the work has been completed. 

Less familiar is the sight of a barn being moved, but this is just what occurred at Hochstetler's Farm this year, as reported in The Daily Mail.

The barn didn't have far to go - just about 150 feet - but it was still a massive undertaking for a group of people who didn't believe in using modern farming equipment. Hochstetler seems to be a well-loved man because more than 200 fellas showed up in their buggies to help him get his barn to where it needed to be.

With so many hands on deck, the job only took a few minutes, and the barn arrived in its new location in perfect condition. Definitely a reason for jubilation!

If you've never seen a barn being moved by hand before, it is well for a few minutes of your time to watch the video of this event. While it's certainly not unheard of to move a barn in this manner, it's rare that such a large group of people is able to assemble to get the job done.

What do you think of this unique off-grid life? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family, as well as any fellow homesteaders!