Donald B. “Buster” Needham, owner of Neeham’s Mushroom Farms of West Grove has been awarded a 2006 Mid-Atlantic Master Farmer Award, an honor that has been called the “Academy Awards” of agriculture.
Established in 1927, the Master Farmer program is one of America's oldest and longest running agricultural honors programs. The award is co-sponsored by American Agriculturist magazine, Penn State Cooperative Extension and the cooperative extension programs of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and West Virginia.
Needham, president of Donald B. Needham and Sons (which includes Hy-tech Compost), has been growing and selling mushrooms from his Chester County businesses since 1958.
Needham, one of seven to receive the award this year, was deemed worthy because of his ability to identify the needs of the mushroom farm community and find solutions. His innovations has lessened odor from the compost process.
“It was a proud moment for me, my family and my farm,” Mr. Needham said.
Winners of the award are deemed to have demonstrated leadership in their community and the industry and have followed the highest environmental standards. Previous winners from Chester County include Art and Duane Hershey of Cochranville and Charlie Brosius of West Grove.