By Autumn Bell
At just eight years old, Carlee Otto displays what it means to give back to her community through her own egg business, Carlee’s Nest, right here in Johnston County.
Otto has given the simplicity of raising chickens a whole new meaning. Born and raised on her family farm, the 2026 Johnston Now Honors Rising Star honoree has become a natural in helping her parents feed and take care of all the animals.
She grew a special connection with these chickens and decided she needed her very own. When she was five years old, Otto began to learn how to feed, raise and take care of her chickens.
Starting with just a few, she began to hatch her own. “I get the eggs and mark them, I then put them under the hen or put them in the incubator,” she said about the hatching process.
Growing her special bond, Otto gives them names, each one holding a unique personality, such as Alla Brown and Granny.
“Granny, she’s the mean one,” she said.
For Otto, the chickens became something far greater than a hobby. They became an opportunity to make a lasting impact.
“I wanted to have my own business and I wanted to start selling the eggs,” she said.
But with her kind-hearted soul, this meant something more to Otto.
“With my money I want to help the community and help the children,” she said.
With the support of her parents, she began to sell her eggs as a way to ask for donations. The idea sparked around Christmas last year, a time where every little bit helps and when community connection counts most.
“We put it on Facebook and it blew up, she raised $200 herself and we matched the donations.” her mother, Melissa Otto, said. She adopted angels off the trees from the Isaiah 117 House in Selma and was able to buy for four different children.
When she isn’t taking care of her chickens, you can find her volunteering and raising awareness to help children in need.
Otto says that she now has a growing family of 20 chickens that she feeds and gathers eggs from each day after school. And once a week, she cleans out the brand new coop — a Christmas gift built by her grandfather.
“It’s built like a small barn and the door is painted purple. (It’s) Carlee’s favorite color,” her mother said.
Growing up on a farm isn’t always easy, but it’s the memories that make it all worth it.
“Yeah, it’s a lot of work, but it’s also fun and rewarding. It teaches them responsibility,” her mother said, when asked about life on a farm.
While she may have learned everything she knows from her parents, Otto is a natural born animal lover as she spends her time feeding and caring for the other farm animals.
“She’s always been a farm girl, she absolutely loves animals,” her mother said. “She would take the chickens inside if she could potty train them.”
Not only is she an entrepreneur, but her personality helped her become a Sweetheart at the Miss Rodeo North Carolina pageant, furthering her connection with animals and those in the community.
Otto is also working towards her dreams of barrel racing her own horses.
This summer, she will be selling her eggs at local vendors, like the Finch Lee House in Clayton. Her partnership with Smith’s Nursery located in Benson has also allowed her to sell her eggs and gain support from around the community.
Otto already has plans to buy more chickens in order to grow her business and receive more donations. With the money she earns, she wants to continue to help even more children in the community.
With a heart of gold, Otto has shown that it truly doesn’t take much to make an impact. All she needs are her cowgirl boots and her family of chickens to make a difference.
