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1990
2001
2025

The Homestead Story

Legacy
Timeline

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1990
Ernest and Barbara Hershberger start Homestead Furniture in a converted chicken coop.
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1999
Word spreads about Homestead’s high-quality, custom Amish-made furniture, prompting the company to open its own manufacturing facility.
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2000
Homestead builds a 12,000-square-foot warehouse to accommodate its continued growth.
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2001
To showcase an extraordinary range of high-end designs and capabilities, Homestead opens a 35,000-square-foot retail store.
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2007
Homestead expands its manufacturing plant to 40,000 square feet to meet growing demand.
2008
Ernest Hershberger founds Abner Henry, Homestead’s sister company, to serve high-end clientele within the luxury designer market.
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2018
Homestead Furniture is completely renovated and begins representing additional luxury brands in the upholstery and outdoor categories.
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2019
Homestead launches its custom designer program and brands itself as the Homestead Furniture and Design Center.
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2021
Homestead launches its HF Trade Program to give designers access to all that Homestead Furniture and Design Center has to offer.
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2023
Abner Henry launches the limited-edition collection in collaboration with The Met, exemplifying the perfect blend of art and design.
2025
Homestead Furniture and Design Center celebrates 35 years!
homestead our culture

At Homestead, culture means staying close to the work—and even closer to the people we serve. For over three decades, we’ve built more than furniture. We’ve built trust, by leading with integrity and doing what’s right, even when it’s harder. We still run our own factory. We still shake hands and follow through. Because here, staying rooted in craftsmanship isn’t a tagline—it’s how we’ve always done business.

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Great Purpose

To serve our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, continually in all of our business and personal life. To be responsible stewards and servants to all those we encounter.

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Vision

Grow a multi-generational business through the wisdom of navigating and anticipating market trends while honoring and glorifying Christ as we meet and exceed our customer's expectations, all in a Godly environment where employees flourish.

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Mission

It’s our goal to grow a multi-generational business while honoring and glorifying Christ, while also serving our customers and employees in a Godly environment. We strive to be a dynamic company where employees are honest and humble in spirit and ultimately create excellent products and relationships that last for generations.

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SERVE with Excellence

  • SEE THE FUTURE

  • ENGAGE & DEVELOP OTHERS

  • REINVENT CONTINUOUSLY

  • VALUE RESULTS & RELATIONSHIPS

  • EMBODY THE VALUES

Our Sustainability Commitment

FURNITURE WITH A PURPOSE - CRAFTED FOR GENERATIONS

We don’t just build furniture differently—we power our process differently too. Homestead’s production facility runs to reduce our footprint and honor the land that inspires our craft. Sustainability isn’t a trend here—it’s a way of life.

Every piece we make begins with intention. From thoughtful wood selection to efficient cutting processes, we strive to use every material wisely—repurposing offcuts, minimizing waste, and designing furniture that endures. Because what’s made with care, stays with you longer.

We believe sustainability starts with excellence. Our heirloom-quality pieces are built to outlast trends, moves, and generations—reducing the need for replacements and keeping meaningful design in your home, not the landfill. It’s quality that feels good and does good.

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Homestead's Visionairies

Ernest Hershberger

Founder and Steward

For over three decades, Ernie has poured heart and heritage into every board, beam, and blueprint that passes through Homestead’s doors. Guided by faith and a relentless pursuit of quality, he built Homestead from the ground up—not just as a furniture business, but as a place where families could find pieces made with purpose. With deep Amish roots and a reverence for tradition, Ernie brings a quiet confidence to the workshop, ensuring that every piece we create carries the weight of legacy and the beauty of integrity.

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Homestead's Visionairies

LAVERN HERSHBERGER

Creative Director

LaVern doesn’t just lead Homestead—he inspires it forward. He’s been the spark behind the innovation, the one constantly asking, “What’s next?” while staying grounded in what matters most: people, purpose, and pieces that last.

From guiding design vision to connecting with customers on the showroom floor, LaVern brings energy, clarity, and an eye for detail to everything he touches. He’s helped build Homestead into a place where craftsmanship meets creativity—and where every idea is met with the belief that it can be brought to life.

For LaVern, it’s never been just about furniture. It’s about building something meaningful—relationships, experiences, and spaces that feel deeply personal. His legacy is still unfolding, one handcrafted piece at a time.

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