Hi! My name is Kathy Kuderer and I'd like to Welcome you to our website and to introduce you to my husband Chuck, and our children Jenny, Jason, Jeremy and Janessa.

We live on a small farm just two miles east of Cashton, Wisconsin, in the heart of Wisconsin's largest Amish community. We invite you to visit us and our business at Down A Country Road.

Chuck and I both grew up on dairy farms right here in the area and were young children when the Amish began moving to the area in 1966. Over the years we have established many friendships with the Amish and work with them in our business.

We married in 1978 and moved here to the small farm, which is our home and home to Down A Country Road Amish Gifts and Tours.

In 1980 Jenny was born and in 1983 Jason was added to the family. I was working a full time job as a bookkeeper/accountant and I really wanted to be "an at home Mom." So in 1985 I quit my full time job to stay home with the kids and became an independent home decorating consultant with Home Interiors and Gifts. It allowed me to set my own hours and gave me the freedom to earn not only a great income, but the flexibility to be with my kids. I continue to be involved on a part time basis with that company over 20 years later.

In 1987 Jeremy was born and I continued to enjoy the country life with my young children. During the summers the kids and I would be out in the yard tossing softballs or riding bikes, when someone would pull in the yard and ask me for directions to find the Amish. They would often want to know where they could go to buy Amish made quilts, rugs, or furniture. I started thinking "Maybe I should start a business to sell their products."

In the early 90's many of our Amish friends were struggling to make ends meet with very low milk prices and it was at that time with their encouragement that I decided to go ahead and make my dreams come true of having my own little gift shop.

In the fall of 1993, as my baby (at the time) went off to school, plans started unfolding for "Down A Country Road." In the Spring of 1994 our Amish friends built our first gift shop here on the farm. I began to work with about 45 Amish families that continue to this day to bring their products here to sell. You'll find a large selection of their handcrafted furniture, quilts, rugs, baskets, home made candies, jams and jellies, maple syrup and more. I began doing tours of the Amish community at that same time, as I found that many people were very curious about the Amish and their customs.

In 1996 we were blessed with an addition to our family and to our business. After 18 years of marriage we welcomed Janessa into our lives in late March. As we awaited her arrival, Chuck and the boys spend time remodeling an old shed that was built here on the farm in 1905. In May of that year we opened "The Little Red Shed," which features country crafts and gifts, many of which are made by other local artisans.

In 1997 one of our Amish friends built a gazebo for us. It's a place for guests to stop and relax, have a picnic lunch or just to enjoy the beautiful scenery here in the valley.

By early in 2000 we had our first website up and running and that brought a whole new world to us, in terms of marketing the business. By this time we were seeing somewhere around 10,000 people visit us here at the farm between May and October. That number included as many as 30 bus tours each season.

In 2001 we decided to add to the business once again. Our Amish friends built another small gift shop that we named "The Potting Shed," which is filled with all kinds of gardening accessories. You'll find everything from bird houses and bird feeders to stepping stones, wind chimes, garden stakes, gardener's soaps and much more.

2006 brought another change as we converted The Potting Shed into an Ice Cream Shop. We've named it "Country Corner Ice Cream Shoppe." The ice cream shop features hand dipped ice cream made in Wisconsin, as well as ice cream sundaes, root beer floats, nostalgic Spring Grove Soda Pop and Amish made candies as well as old time nostalgic candies. It is decorated in a very warm and welcome country feel. Come enjoy!

We also added a new gift shop, "Emma's Kitchen." Emma's Kitchen is filled to the brim with all kinds of jams and jellies, home made candies, noodles, maple syrup, honey products, bread mixes, spices and flavorings and more.

Chuck works full time as a truck driver for the local feed mill, but also raises some animals here on the farm. He also loves to landscape and continues to do so around the farm and business.

We hope you'll take the time to stop and visit us as you make your visit to Cashton and Wisconsin's largest Amish community.