Rare look inside Amish community

An Amish community in rural Ohio celebrated the end of the school year early this week. The festivities doubled as a farewell picnic for four women and one man who are headed to federal prison Friday on hate crimes convictions for their involvement in hair and beard-cutting attacks against fellow Amish.

In this photo, Amish girls play softball after class in Bergholz, Ohio, April 9, 2013.

Anna Miller holds her daughter during a farewell picnic outside the school house in Bergholz, Ohio, April 9, 2013.

The farewell celebration was held for Miller and other Amish members leaving for prison throughout the week for their roles in a hair and beard cutting scandal.

Freeman Burkholder crosses home plate during a game of baseball at the farewell picnic in Bergholz, Ohio, April 9, 2013.

Burkholder was sentenced to prison for his part in the hair and beard cutting scandal against other members of the Amish community.

Amish girls eat snacks during an end of the school year celebration in Bergholz, Ohio, April 9, 2013.

Wilma Mullet and her family walk to the school house for the final day of class, April 9, 2013 in Bergholz, Ohio.

Mullet and other Amish families gathered for a farewell celebration before members of the sect depart for prison following convictions in a beard-cutting scandal.

Lovina Miller responds to questions during an interview in Bergholz, Ohio, April 9, 2013.

Miller was sentenced to prison for her part in the hair and beard cutting scandal against other Amish members.

Emma Miller holds her son during a farewell picnic outside the schoolhouse in Bergholz, Ohio, April 9, 2013.

Miller, along with three other women and a man from this tight-knit community in rural eastern Ohio, will enter prison on April 12, joining nine already behind bars on hate crimes convictions for hair and beard-cutting attacks against fellow Amish.

Anna Miller plays with her daughter during a farewell celebration outside the school house in Bergholz, Ohio, April 9, 2013.

The farewell celebration was held for Miller and other Amish members leaving for prison throughout the week for their roles in a hair and beard cutting scandal.

Emma Miller answers questions during an interview in Bergholz, Ohio, April 9, 2013.

Miller was convicted and sentenced to prions for her role in the hair and beard cutting scandal against other Amish members.

Amish women and children listen to children sing in a school house during the final day of class, April 9, 2013 in Bergholz, Ohio.

The end-of-school celebration served as the last big community gathering before four women and one man from this tight-knit group in rural eastern Ohio enter prison on Friday, joining nine already behind bars on hate crimes convictions for hair- and beard-cutting attacks against fellow Amish.

Amish boys walk to the school house for their final day of class in Bergholz, Ohio, April 9, 2013.

Freeman Burkholder carries his son to the school house for a ceremony to mark the end of the school year, April 9, 2013 in Bergholz, Ohio.

Burkholder and four women from this tight-knit community in rural eastern Ohio will enter prison on Friday, April 12, joining nine already behind bars on hate crimes convictions for hair- and beard-cutting attacks against fellow Amish.

Wilma Mullet adjusts her bonnet during an interview in Bergholz, Ohio, April 9, 2013.

Linda Schrock answers questions during an interview in Bergholz, Ohio, April 9, 2013.

Schrock was convicted and sentenced to prison for her role in the hair and beard-cutting scandal against other Amish members.

Emma Miller pushes her son in a stroller outside the schoolhouse in Bergholz, Ohio, April 9, 2013.

Miller, along with three other women and a man from this tight-knit community in rural eastern Ohio, will enter prison on April 12, joining nine already behind bars on hate crimes convictions for hair- and beard-cutting attacks against fellow Amish.

Amish children sing songs in German and English during the final day of class while their families listen, April 9, 2013 in Bergholz, Ohio.

Amish girls gather outside the school house prior to the start of their final day of class in Bergholz, Ohio, April 9, 2013.

Four women and one man from this tight-knit community in rural eastern Ohio will enter prison on April 12, joining nine already behind bars on hate crimes convictions for hair- and beard-cutting attacks against fellow Amish.

Freeman Burkholder waits for his turn at bat during a game of baseball at the farewell picnic in Bergholz, Ohio, April 9, 2013.

The picnic was for Burkholder and other Amish people leaving for prison this week for their part in the hair and beard-cutting scandal against other Amish members.

Amish men and children listen to children sing in a school house during the final day of class, April 9, 2013 in Bergholz, Ohio.

The end-of-school celebration served as the last big community gathering before four women and one man from this tight-knit group in rural eastern Ohio enter prison on Friday, joining nine already behind bars on hate crimes convictions for hair- and beard-cutting attacks against fellow Amish.

An Amish girl attempts to mount a miniature horse near the family farm in Bergholz, Ohio, April 9, 2013.

Amish boys watch a game of baseball outside the school house in Bergholz, Ohio, April 9, 2013.

Many Amish families gathered following the final day of school for a celebration and farewell picnic.