05/08/2026
In 2017, Gary Pittman's chicken contract was cancelled when the processing plant he supplied shut down. He was 48. His farm was $280,000 in debt.
He had 90 days to figure something out.
His son showed him a YouTube video about specialty mushroom farming. Gary watched it once.
"That's what we're doing," he said.
His wife thought he'd lost his mind. His neighbor laughed openly.
Gary converted two chicken houses into climate-controlled mushroom grow rooms. He grew oyster, shiitake, and lion's mane varieties.
Year one: modest profit. Year two: a restaurant wholesale account. Year three: a regional grocery distribution deal.
Year four: $5.1 million in revenue and a waiting list for his product.
His neighbor placed an order last year. Gary filled it.
"I didn't pivot," Gary says. "I just found something that grows faster than problems." ๐บ๐ธ