By Hannah Cargill, contract production manager, Avara Foods
The term nepo baby has become a staple in pop culture, referring to the offspring of celebrities who seem to glide into the industry on the wings of their famous parents. Think Jaden Smith or Dakota Johnson. These offspring sometime raise eyebrows about whether their success is built on privilege or talent.
But this is not just a Hollywood phenomenon. Nepo babies are everywhere — even in industries that seem worlds apart, like poultry farming.
The same dynamics driving children of celebrities into film are at play for children of poultry farmers, and the similarities are surprising.
For one, early exposure is key. I spoke with Becca Goodings, a rearing farm assistant manager for Noble Foods, who returned to the industry after a short stint in retail. Having grown up around poultry, she was drawn back by the skills she’d developed early on and her natural comfort on farm. Becca’s story isn’t unique; a lot of young people find themselves following in their parents’ footsteps simply because they’ve been immersed in the work from a young age. It becomes part of their identity.
But it’s not always planned. Ben Williams, a broiler farmer from Herefordshire, had initially set his sights elsewhere. More interested in rugby and a city career in his youth, farming wasn’t even on his radar. It was only after feeling the pull of his rural roots during the pandemic that he decided to join the family business. “The last few years have been tough, but I see a bright future for poultry farming,” Ben told me. His competitive spirit, honed on the rugby field, now fuels his determination to innovate and grow the family farm. For him, there’s real satisfaction in seeing the farm thrive.
And farming isn’t just about getting your hands dirty anymore. Becca pointed out how diverse the career options are in poultry, both on and off the farm. This isn’t a narrow field; it’s an industry that offers opportunities in areas from animal welfare, pharmaceuticals to tech and beyond.
Even though I’m not a farmer, my own connection to the poultry industry runs deep. My father is a poultry vet, and growing up with conversations about his work, from post-mortems to disease control, gave me a similar sense of pride in being part of the industry.
Whether in the film world or farming, the pull to follow in your parents’ footsteps is universal. These nepo babies — regardless of the industry — are shaped by legacy, early exposure, and a deep-rooted sense of purpose. And while the challenges differ, the sense of continuity is something that both industries share.