The people who dress like Quakers?? (Great Falls) (for sale, buy)

[mysticpenguin]

My husband and I recently moved to Great Falls, MT, and since arriving here about a month ago we've frequently run into people dressed like Quakers who seem to speak German, and as a matter of curiosity we're wondering what religious or political or ethnic group they're a part of?

Thanks!

[MTSilvertip]

They are members of the Hutteran Brotherhood, commonly referred to as Hutterites.
They are a religious society somewhat similar to the Amish, or Mennonites. They do speak a form of german.
They live in a communal society, are very religious, and sell a lot of vegetables at the farmers markets. (They make great bread and saurkraut too!)

I have always found them to be very friendly, willing to lend a hand, and good people to talk to.
They are hardworking people that look out for their church and families, and make good neighbors.

There are several colonies scattered around the state, so you will see them pretty regularly.

Go say "Hi" sometime. I enjoy talking to them, you might too.

[Mt-7]

I know over here they come around with vegies in the summer for sale.
I also drive over to some and get some great chicken for the freezer. Luster has a great festive with German food that has many involved with it.
They always look so tidy

[mica]

Do they use horse and buggies for transportation?

[ElkHunter]

Depends on the colony. Some will only use natural conveyences. Horse's. Some will purchase a community pickup. Maybe a truck to deliver produce.

Where I live, the Colony is 45 miles from town. So no, horses are not used to come to town. Not sure what they use within the Colony though.

Where I grew up, it was 10 miles to town so the Colony used horse drawn wagons/buggy's to come to town and deliver produce or veggies.

[mica]

Thanks Elk. I was curious, figuring they had some decent distances to travel.

[Fodderman]

Most of the colonies are not nearly as hung up about technology as are, say, the Amish. They'll use computers, cell phones, trucks...whatever it takes to get the job done and improve the colony - especially when it comes to their farms. No plow around the neck hauled by an ox.

If you see Montana Eggs brand eggs, I believe those are from the Hutterites. They formed a corporation where all (or most all) colonies go through Montana Eggs to sell eggs throughout the state. Some stores will also sell their chickens and, at Thanksgiving, turkeys (which have a lot less fat on them than other turkeys I've tried).

[Mt-7]

Hands down make the best roasted chicken!

[Rickers]

We have friends who belong to the New Miami Colony and they have given us several food items as gifts that they don't generally sell to the public. We don't drink alcohol anymore but when we did we had their wine a few times and I swear it was fortified (spiked with clear alcohol) I estimated it to be about 20 to 25 % !!!. They also gave us some dumplings, dinner rolls, a pair of comfy foot slippers for my wife and a bunch of fabric. We regularly buy eggs and chickens from them and I have done a bit of looking stuff up on the web for them as a favor. I think our neighboring colony doesn't have a computer and they only have one phone. They wear black pants and hats in the winter and many will switch to straw cowboy hats in the summer. The photo below shows a Hutterite guy heading to the truck after shopping at Wal-Mart. Our friends have offered us a tour of the colony but It's not clear yet if they will let us take any pictures or not. I kind of doubt it.

[Gman2007]

Good site that explains most of their way of life:

Hutterites on the web