EP #52 - Ernie Hershberger: From Chicken House to The Met

In this episode of The Plain Values Podcast… 

Some stories remind us that humble beginnings and faithful stewardship can lead to extraordinary places.

Ernie Hershberger grew up the oldest of eight in Walnut Creek, Ohio. His dad was a mechanic, and Ernie followed him into the shop, learning the craft of building from raw lumber. 

In 1990, he and his wife Barb took a leap and opened a small furniture store in what used to be a chicken house in Mount Hope.

What started as a simple desire to serve customers well soon grew into something much larger. 

Today, Homestead Furniture is known for building truly custom, American-made pieces, while Abner Henry has taken Ernie’s work into the world of high-end design, including a major collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Ernie opens up about the long, sometimes brutal journey of learning to lead a team, the spiritual discipline of letting go of self, and why he doesn’t believe in setting goals. 

He shares how he’s learned to create “data compartments” in his day (protecting time for family, church, and rest) and how the same principles of stewardship and servant leadership apply to business, family, and faith.

Whether you’re running a business, raising a family, or simply trying to live with purpose, Ernie’s quiet wisdom offers a powerful reminder: success isn’t about reaching a finish line… it’s about faithfully stewarding the talent God has given you, one faithful step at a time.

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Learn more about Ernie Hershberger at homesteadfurniture.com.

Learn more about Plain Values at plainvalues.com.