On August 1, The Budget celebrated 135 years of publishing with an open house at its office in Sugarcreek, Ohio. The following day, Budget scribes met at the Heritage Community Center in Millersburg, Ohio. About 400 people attended the scribe gathering. Over the course of two days, thousands came to celebrate The Budget.

The Budget is a newspaper read and written by members of Plain Anabaptist groups across the Americas and around the world. The writers, called scribes, send in letters that are published in the newspaper. The Budget has about 1,100 scribes, 20,000 subscribers and an estimated 50,000 readers.

“It’s been 10 years since our last [scribe] gathering and I think a lot has changed, not necessarily in our community but a lot in the world,” said Milo Miller, publisher of The Budget at the scribe gathering.

“But I can assure you that one thing that has not changed — our commitment to the Plain Community, it has not waivered,” Miller said. “I often tell our team it’s not our newspaper, it’s yours; we’re just privileged to publish it. Thank you for all you do, without the scribe, there is no Budget.”

David Spector, president of The Budget, also spoke. He shared the story of how his family came to own the paper, asking first how many knew his father, the late Albert Spector.

“In 1981, my father purchased The Budget,” he said. “His business was and still is selling primarily fabrics and other merchandise to the Plain communities across the United States. The Budget is the way he got that out to everyone. When The Budget found itself in financial difficulty, he purchased it, knowing nothing about newspapers.”

Spector shared that his family’s connection with the Plain communities went back 60 years. His Jewish grandfather Michael Spector escaped religious persecution in Russia and went across Europe. He boarded a ship in Italy and landed in Philadelphia, Pa.

In 1920, Michael Spector learned of a community in New Wilmington, Pa., who spoke a language similar to one he spoke. So he loaded up his wagon went to New Wilmington, and there he met the Amish. As the Amish communities moved west, so did he, first to Geauga County, Ohio, before settling in Mount Eaton, Ohio, and opening a store in 1937. 

 “On August 26, 1937, the first ad for Spector’s appeared in The Budget,” Spector explained. “It was a very bold letter proclaiming that he was here to stay. That store is still there.”

After serving as a combat medic in World War II, Spector’s father Albert came back and started working for the fabric business. He grew it to include several locations and a robust mail order roster as well. “So, 88 years later, my family is blessed to be here, celebrating with you,” Spector shared. “The Budget exists because of those of you who write the letters.”

He also noted that he feels encouraged when he sees new, young scribes joining the ranks at The Budget, as they are the future of the business. “They will be carrying the torch going forward,” Spector said.

The Spector family, having owned The Budget for 45 years, was honored by Miller with special framed art that included a printing plate from the 135th anniversary edition in May 2025. It also had a print of the Editor’s Corner from January 1981 when Associate Editor George Smith wrote about the change in ownership.

Miller praised the family of Albert Spector — son and daughters David, Sonia Cohen and Debra Klossterman, as well as grandson Josh Senger — for their unwavering support of the business. The milestone means the family has held the business for nearly one third of its existence.

Miller also dedicated time to honoring attendees who have helped The Budget in various ways. Other honors and superlatives were presented during the meeting, including:

• The longest-writing and oldest scribe present was Emma Schlabach of Sugarcreek, Ohio, who has written for The Budget for  71 years. She is 89.
• The youngest-writing scribe present was Geneva Ruth Miller, of Greenville, Pa., who is 14 years old.
• The farthest-traveled scribe present was Bill Miller of Modesto, Calif., who traveled 2,477 miles to come to the event. A close second were Roy and Mary Kropf of Rochester, Wash., who logged 2,476.5 miles.
• The first to register was Sam L. Hershberger of Mount Eaton, Ohio.

Featured speakers during the event included Ivan Keim on the subject of faith, Sue Weaver on the topic of family and Ray Miller on community. Eddie Miller served as the song leader for the event, leading the group in “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art.”

Miller noted that future for The Budget is a bright one, despite issues with the United States Postal Service concerning delivery. “We have an amazing team,” he told the audience. “They care about you, they care about The Budget. They care about the greater community.”