The Unique ‘Equipment’ Choices That Keep This Louisiana Apiary Buzzing
April 15, 2025 Cheri’ Ben-Iesau owns and operates Big Branch Apiary in Lacombe, LA. Nestled between the Tammany Trace and Big Branch Wildlife Preserve, the farm offers honey, free-range eggs, and seasonal blueberry and flower U-picks. Ben-Iesau is also an American painter, author, and retired member of the U.S. Coast Guard.
After serving in the Coast Guard, she utilized her GI Bill benefits to attend college back home. Her nearly 25-year career included duty stations in San Diego, Louisville, Baton Rouge, Houston, and New Orleans.
When Hurricane Katrina hit, she was detailed as the U.S. Coast Guard liaison to city hall. Her self-published book, “The Long September: The Social Life of a Katrina Responder,” describes her experiences leading up to, during, and immediately after the storm. She was Chief of Public and Government Affairs for the Eighth Coast Guard District during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster in 2010 and retired soon after having achieved the rank of Commander.
Listed below are some of her favorite pieces of “equipment,” a few of which are the literal heartbeat of her ranch.
Babydoll Southdown Sheep
Photo by MichaelVi, AdobeStock
“Our favorite weeder. These are Babydoll Southdown, a small breed about 20 inches tall. They’re so cute! Plus, they don’t eat the blueberries, but they do like the weeds. And, ahem, I do like me some lamb.”
HenGear Rollout Nest Box
“They’ve made a big difference in ease of collection and the cleanliness of our eggs.”
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms
“I don’t know if this qualifies as favorite tools really, but I employ the help of WWOOFers. I frequently have interns on the farm through an organization called World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms — WWOOF. The interns come from all walks of life and a wide range of skill sets, from engineers to architects, farmers to city folk. The thing they all bring is enthusiasm and we couldn’t operate the farm like we do without them. We give them hands-on experience, and they give us a hand. We supply room and board in exchange for 20-25 hours of work a week.”
Kubota 5600 Series
Photo courtesy of Big Branch Apiary
“Money well spent. The service from the dealership is top-notch, it was the right price point for our farm and has saved us thousands of dollars in work we would otherwise have to farm out. I can repair myself without hurting the warranty. Kubota offered 0% financing on the tractor and some key attachments. Probably the most useful equipment purchase we ever made.”
D.B. Smith Field King Backpack Sprayer
Photo courtesy of Big Branch Apiary
“Our favorite sprayer: Repairable but has hardly ever needed repair. Works great and is durable.”
Want to see more favorite pieces of farm equipment and cool tools? Click here to see installments of American Vegetable Grower’s “Kick the Tires” series.
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