Summer Conference in Middlebury, Indiana
June 26 — 27, 2026
Essenhaus Inn and Conference Center
Plain Roots: Community, Story, and Support for Higher Education
A conference designed to connect those with a Plain background who are seeking or have sought education while welcoming anyone interested in the culture and conversations around it — all are invited!
What to Expect
- Panels featuring current students, professionals, and authors sharing their experiences in education and beyond
- Presentations on specialty topics and individual education journeys
- Two shared meals with opportunities to connect, converse, and build community with fellow attendees
Registration & Accommodations
- Two tiers: most will pay $100, but reduced to $50 for those with reduced ability to pay and those attending only on Saturday
- Includes Friday dinner and Saturday lunch
- Lodging available through the Essenhaus Inn, Airbnb, and local host families (more information to come on host families)
Registration Deadline
Deadline for registration is June 15, 2026
Register below or directly through Eventbrite
Plain Roots Conference Schedule
Friday, June 26, 2026
1:00 pm — Registration
2:00 pm — Opening talk: outlining the purpose and goals of the conference
Speakers: Saloma Miller Furlong and Eythana Miller
2:30 pm — Presentations on Pennsylvania Dutch Projects
- Eythana Miller, Heritage in Translation: the oral history of an unconventional Amish community
- Rose Fisher, The Pennsylvania Dutch Dialects Project
- Eythana Miller and Rose Fisher, Teaching people to write Pennsylvania Dutch
3:45 pm — Break
4:00 pm — Author panel John Yoder, Albert Miller, Saloma Furlong, Lizzie Hershberger? (moderated by Eythana Miller)
5:00 pm — Close for the day; move from conference center to restaurant for dinner
Saturday, June 27, 2026
8:30 am — Naomi Clark and Sharon Beachy
9:15 am — ADSF: Where we started and where we are today, Emma Miller, Naomi Kramer Yoder, Saloma Miller Furlong, Eythana Miller
10:15 am — Break
10:30 am — Panel of students receiving scholarships from ADSF: Katie Fisher, MJ Kempf, TBD (moderated by Rose Fisher)
11:30 pm — Lunch
1:00 pm — Individual stories from Leon Hostetler, physicist, and Derek Miller, engineer
1:45 pm — Individual stories from medical professionals: Harley Yoder, Albert Miller, Laura Buress, moderated by Freeman Miller
3:00 pm — Break
3:30 pm — Individual stories from those in STEM and Industry: Harley Troyer, Michael Walker, Steve Yoder
4:45 — Saloma and Eythana make closing remarks and ask everyone to fill out a survey
5:00 pm – Conference Ends: Optional dinner at Essenhaus for those who want to stay.
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