About Us
Our Story
After getting married and walking the infertility path for five years, my wife and I completed our home study to begin the adoption process. Today we have 4 children. Bryson is on the Autism spectrum, Adelaide and Bennett both have Down syndrome, and Miles has Mosaic Down syndrome. Over the years, folks have asked us all sorts of questions from “Are you sure you want to spend your whole life caring for your kids?” to “Did you know they had special needs?” And we have a simple answer every time… We asked the Lord to bring us the children He wanted us to have, and He did just that… and that’s good enough for us! We are a noisy tribe at times and most likely you will be wished “Happy Birthday” at random times or even sung to if you happen to run into us.
Our Story
After getting married and walking the infertility path for five years, my wife and I completed our home study to begin the adoption process. Today we have 4 children. Bryson is on the Autism spectrum, Adelaide and Bennett both have Down syndrome, and Miles has Mosaic Down syndrome. Over the years, folks have asked us all sorts of questions from “Are you sure you want to spend your whole life caring for your kids?” to “Did you know they had special needs?” And we have a simple answer every time… We asked the Lord to bring us the children He wanted us to have, and He did just that… and that’s good enough for us! We are a noisy tribe at times and most likely you will be wished “Happy Birthday” at random times or even sung to if you happen to run into us. Our neighbors on the hill are such a blessing, watching out for our kids and at times, dropping everything to come help us out.
The Magazine
Ten years ago, we started publishing a print magazine that stands on a few pillars: sharing the gospel with the Amish across the country, the beauty of adoption, and shining a light on the dignity of kids with special needs. Over the years, we have welcomed many “non-Amish” folks to our passel of readers, and we added more of ourselves into Plain Values, including homesteading content. At times, folks ask us “what is Plain Values all about?” I think they ask because we have such a wide variety of topics inside our pages. We do that purposefully because we want to be well-rounded, well-read, and deeply thoughtful people. Our favorite people are those who have walked sections of life’s road that are bumpy and hard and have not given up on God’s purpose for their lives. We believe it makes us deeper, more soulful, and if we let it, wiser for the road ahead.
The Magazine
Ten years ago, we started publishing a print magazine that stands on a few pillars: sharing the gospel with the Amish across the country, the beauty of adoption, and shining a light on the dignity of kids with special needs. Over the years, we have welcomed many “non-Amish” folks to our passel of readers, and we added more of ourselves into Plain Values, including homesteading content. At times, folks ask us “what is Plain Values all about?” I think they ask because we have such a wide variety of topics inside our pages. We do that purposefully because we want to be well-rounded, well-read, and deeply thoughtful people. Our favorite people are those who have walked sections of life’s road that are bumpy and hard and not given up on God’s purpose for their lives. We believe it makes us deeper, more soulful, and if we let it, wiser for the road ahead.
Room to Bloom
At the heart, Plain Values is about cultivating anchored community and living in authentic community with our neighbors. We are far from perfect, but we do the best we can to live out what we write about, and it seems to resonate with people. Today we are read by 300k plus folks across the nation and have tons of great content coming. A few years ago, we saw an opportunity to do more and began Room to Bloom. It is a nonprofit focused on exposing the realities of the many children with special needs stuck in hard and dark places around the world. Over the last two years, we have played a role in bringing 16 kids home to their “forever families,” and we will not stop until the orphanages are empty! We will rest in Heaven!
Room to Bloom
At the heart, Plain Values is about cultivating anchored community and living in authentic community with our neighbors. We are far from perfect, but we do the best we can to live out what we write about, and it seems to resonate with people. Today we are read by 300k plus folks across the nation and have tons of great content coming. A few years ago, we saw an opportunity to do more and began Room to Bloom. It is a nonprofit focused on exposing the realities of the many children with special needs stuck in hard and dark places around the world. Over the last two years, we have played a role in bringing 16 kids home to their “forever families,” and we will not stop until the orphanages are empty! We will rest in Heaven!
Juneberry HIll
All her life, Lisa has loved one-room schoolhouses. In fact, for eight years, she taught first grade classes in our public school district in a historic two-room schoolhouse. While homeschooling has been a great choice for our family, after reading about the schoolhouse Rory Feek built on his farm for his daughter, Indiana, it gave us a vision for what school could look like for our family. In 2023, we will be busy bringing two one-room schoolhouses from the 1800’s back to life, rebuilt together as one bigger one-room schoolhouse. Juneberry Hill Schoolhouse is reimagining education for our family and other children in the community by creating a multi-age, all-ability–included rural school on our homestead.
Juneberry Hill
All her life, Lisa has loved one-room schoolhouses. In fact, for eight years, she taught first grade classes in our public school district in a historic two-room schoolhouse. While homeschooling has been a great choice for our family, after reading about the schoolhouse Rory Feek built on his farm for his daughter, Indiana, it gave us a vision for what school could look like for our family. In 2023, we will be busy bringing two one-room schoolhouses from the 1800’s back to life, rebuilt together as one bigger one-room schoolhouse. Juneberry Hill Schoolhouse is reimagining education for our family and other children in the community by creating a multi-age, all-ability–included rural school on our homestead.
We are doing our best to enjoy the simple things in life, to stay connected to our community, and to slow down so we don’t miss a minute. Won’t you join us? Subscribe today, and stop by our office when you pass through town.
Meet the Team
Marlin Miller
Publisher
Marlin Miller
Name your favorite food(s)
Sushi, Mexican, and most things my wife makes.
When did you join Plain Values?
The beginning. We published our first issue November of 2012.
What magazine do you most often browse/read?
I’m a print junkie, so that’s really hard to answer but here goes,
Gear Patrol, Modern Huntsman, Plough and The Flyfish Journal to name a few.
How do you spend your spare time?
Reading and some fishing.
List three bucket list items.
Fly fishing BC steelhead.
Catching Permit in the keys on a fly.
Opening a school for kids with special needs.
Matt Yoder
Matt Yoder
Name your favorite food(s)
That’s tough… I’ll have to break it into categories:
Coffee – Currently, it’s a Maple & Cinnamon Breve from Red Mug.
Pizza – Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza from Park Street Pizza.
Home Cooking – Mexican Chicken & Rice and Cornbread from the wife.
Snack – Yogurt-covered Pretzels from any of our local bulk food stores.
Breakfast – Baked Oatmeal with Yogurt.
When did you join Plain Values?
I remember the first issue I worked on was the September 2017 edition. So, I would have started in July 2017.
What magazine do you most often browse/read?
I love what the Eldridge’s are doing in And Sons. It’s one of the coolest mags I’ve seen.
How do you spend your spare time?
I enjoy writing. It’s mostly for my own therapy, but I do occasionally blog.
I also find running to be therapeutic, whether it is chasing my littles through the house or hitting the road.
List three bucket list items.
My current top 3 are…
- Write a children’s book.
- Run a sub-four-hour marathon.
- Snowboard an actual Mountain. Any will do. Ohio Bunny slopes do not suffice.
Aaron Stutzman
Sales Advisor
Aaron Stutzman
Name your favorite food(s)
My favorite food is beef or chicken, and any fresh food out of the garden, especially cooked by my wife.
When did you join Plain Values?
I started working with Plain Values towards the end of July in 2020.
What magazine do you most often browse/read?
I enjoy browsing the Western Horseman magazine.
How do you spend your spare time?
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family, playing music, and riding horses.
List three bucket list items.
Three things on my bucket list are…
- Finish my home studio.
- Someday have a family band.
- Take a trip out west with my family.
Chris Conant
Sales Advisor
Chris Conant
Name your favorite food(s)
That changes from season to season. Could be pizza, could be sushi, could be bbq pork. But you can never go wrong with a hot dog topped with as many condiments as you can fit on top.
When did you join Plain Values?
I believe officially it was January of 2023, but I have been a Plain Values Groupie for much longer than that.
What magazine do you most often browse/read?
Other than the obvious choice of Plain Values, you can always find a copy of the latest Premier 1 or Lehmans catalog on my desk. But since those aren’t magazines I will have to say just about anything travel or outdoor related.
How do you spend your spare time?
I can usually be found watching anything and everything educational on YouTube. History and simple living are my go to vices (and sometimes Seth Yoder singing videos). I also like to plot travel plans around stops at Buc-ee’s.
List three bucket list items.
Easiest question ever, 1) Ride Amtrak over every rail it has in the USA. B) Drive Route 66 in a 1964 Ford Mustang Convertible from Chicago to LA. 3rd) Stealing a line from Dave Ramsey, “Live like no one else, so that I can give like no one else.”
Isaac Hershberger
Production Manager
Isaac Hershberger
Name your favorite food(s)
My favorite type of food is anything Asian, with a particular love for Korean food. My favorite dish is Korean pork tacos with kimchi.
When did you join Plain Values?
I started working for Plain Values in April of 2014.
What magazine do you most often browse/read?
My favorite magazine is Sift, published by the makers of King Arthur Flour. I enjoy studying the design and layout of their magazine, plus it makes me hungry for delicious treats. A real win-win.
How do you spend your spare time?
My spare time is split into two categories: while the kids are awake, and while the kids are asleep. While the kids are awake, they unashamedly occupy all of my spare time. While the kids are asleep, I enjoy watching shows like Friends and The Office with my wife and rooting for the Cleveland Indians with blind hope and optimism.
List three bucket list items.
My top 3 bucket list items are to travel to Asia (mostly for the food), grow old with my wife and raise children who have overcome my short-comings, and never have to mow the lawn again.
Sabrina Schlabach
Quality Assurance
Sabrina Schlabach
Name your favorite food(s)
I love trying new things so it’s hard to narrow it down, but I really enjoy sushi and BBQ.
When did you join Plain Values?
October 2021
What magazine do you most often browse/read?
It’s probably a tie between Taste of Home and Reader’s Digest.
How do you spend your spare time?
Reading, baking, and spending time with my family and friends.
List three bucket list items.
Hmm…never really thought about it before. I’d really like to do some more traveling, help my husband build a little cabin for ourselves, and create my own recipe book.
Seth Yoder
Seth Yoder
Name your favorite food(s)
Chicken bacon ranch pizza is definitely in the top spot. I do, however, enjoy any pizza (except plain cheese—blah).
When did you join Plain Values?
I began working part-time for Plain Values in May of 2016 and switched to full-time work in January of 2017.
What magazine do you most often browse/read?
More appropriately, “What magazine covers do you most often glance at?” I rarely browse magazines, but when I do, it’s probably Quality Whitetails, or the local newspaper (Does that count?).
How do you spend your spare time?
My current largest spare-time endeavor is producing a cappella music on YouTube (Just search Seth Yoder). Did I just… Was that a plug? Huh. Oh well. A close second is roundnet (a.k.a. spikeball). Spending an evening with family is also high on my list of enjoyed activities, as is deer hunting.
List three bucket list items.
I’ve never created a bucket list, so maybe that should be my first bucket list item:
- Create a bucket list
- Visit the Holy Lands
- Reach 100,000 subscribers on YouTube
- And number four, since the first item was kinda lame: Collaborate with a famous musician.
Mocca "Mo" Master
CEO (Chief Energy Officer)
Mocha “Mo” Master
Name your favorite food(s)
I enjoy most cookies but I’m inclined to choose Tim-Tams as my favorite.
When did you join Plain Values?
I’ve been serving this team since 2018.
What magazine do you most often browse/read?
I have always bean particular to Roast Magazine.
How do you spend your spare time?
I like staying up late. I like rising early. I like steaming up a pair of clean glasses on a cold day. I love Tim-Tam-Team-Time.
List three bucket list items.
- To brew a cup of the most expensive and most extravagant coffee in the world–Kopi luwak
- To visit the ancient coffee forests on the Ethiopian plateau. There, legend says the goat herder Kaldi first discovered the potential of these beloved beans.
- To brew a cup of coffee for someone famous. Perhaps an award winning musical artist or a best-selling author. Or both…
Porch Time
We work in a pre-Civil War stone house. It was renovated in the early 2000s and became our office in 2014. We would absolutely love to show you around and take some time to sit on the porch visiting. Every third Friday afternoon of each month, we are opening the office from 1:00-4:00 pm to host Porch Time. You are invited to stop by, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and relax on the porch as you delight in meeting new friends and catching up with old ones. We welcome you to join us as we strive to live in authentic old-fashioned community. See you soon!
Porch Time
We work in a pre-Civil War stone house. It was renovated in the early 2000s and became our office in 2014. We would absolutely love to show you around and take some time to sit on the porch visiting. Every third Friday afternoon of each month, we are opening the office from 1:00-4:00 pm to host Porch Time. You are invited to stop by, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and relax on the porch as you delight in meeting new friends and catching up with old ones. We welcome you to join us as we strive to live in authentic old-fashioned community. See you soon!