BUILT FROM THE HIVE UP
What started as a curiosity about honeybees has quickly grown into a thriving business that’s shipping handcrafted beekeeping supplies across the country, all from a workshop in rural Coyle.
Just a year after Dustin and Alicia Cantrell, Central Rural Electric Cooperative members, began keeping bees, they launched Triple Oak Acres Bee Supply.
Since opening in January 2025, the business has found customers in 33 states, from California to New York, while continuing to serve a growing number of local beekeepers.
“I had been keeping bees and noticed there was a need for quality woodenware,” said Dustin Cantrell, owner of Triple Oak Acres Bee Supply. “Not long after, we expanded into our current operations.”
Inside the Triple Oak Acres shop, nearly every box, frame and wooden accessory is carefully crafted by hand.
“I found there was a void in the market for quality products at an affordable price,” he said.
That commitment to craftsmanship has become the foundation of the business. One of Triple Oak Acres’ most sought-after products is its wax-dipped woodenware, something Dustin says no other Oklahoma supplier currently manufactures.
The process involves submerging wooden hive components in 300-degree wax, which removes moisture while the wax penetrates the wood to preserve it. The result is equipment that can last up to 20 years, roughly twice the lifespan of untreated woodenware.
“I focus on precise, good craftsmanship,” Cantrell said.
Dustin’s interest in beekeeping started with a desire to learn something new.
During the busiest months, roughly March through July, the days are long.
When fall and winter arrive, the focus shifts from bees to building inventory for the busy spring season.
For Dustin, beekeeping is about far more than producing honey.
“One-third of every food we eat is pollinated by bees,” he said. “Foods like almonds wouldn’t exist without bees.”
“I’m someone who puts a lot of value in teaching myself how to do something,” he said. “I’ve always been interested in beekeeping.”
Today, Dustin manages 30 hives while also running the woodworking operation.
This year has been especially challenging because of early drought conditions that limited owering plants and nectar sources. When nature doesn’t provide enough forage, Dustin supplements his colonies with feed to keep them healthy.
He also enjoys developing products that help fellow beekeepers succeed.
SEE “FROM THE HIVE UP” PAGE 4
Dustin and Alicia Cantrell
Central Board of Trustees:
Sid Sperry, President (District 4)
Greg Tytenicz, Vice President (District 2)
Ken Starks, Secretary/Treasurer (District 5)
Randy Wedel (District 1)
Melanie McGuire (District 3)
James Wells (District 6)
Randy Ethridge (District 7)
Executive Team:
Shane Burgess - Chief Executive Officer
Sondra White - Chief Financial Officer
Mark Prather - President of Fiber and Technology
Jillianne Tebow - Vice President of Brand Strategy and Engagement
Empowered Editors:
Larry Mattox - Director of Marketing and Communications
Kory Bowman - Marketing and Communications Specialist
Ivy Swan - Marketing and Communications Specialist
Contact Us: editor@mycentral.coop 405-372-2884 | 800-375-2884 3305 S. Boomer Rd. | P.O. Box 1809
Stillwater, OK 74076 mycentral.coop facebook.com/MyCentralCoop instagram.com/MyCentralCoop
Central Rural Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
KILOWATTS AND BRATS
WHAT IS KILOWATTS AND BRATS?
It’s a chance for members to visit with Central’s staff and trustees, learn about the cooperative, the electric industry and Centranet while enjoying a picnic-style dinner.
WHO CAN
ATTEND?
Kilowatts and Brats is open to all Central members and their guests. We encourage you to bring your family and enjoy an evening with us.
DO I NEED TO RSVP?
Yes! RSVPs are needed to ensure there is enough food for every attendee and guest.
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE PRESENTATION?
Members can submit questions about Central, the energy industry and ber to be answered by Central’s leadership during the event presentation.
HOW
LONG DOES THE EVENT LAST?
Plan for about two hours. You’ll have time to enjoy a meal, visit with Central employees and trustees, and hear updates from leadership.
WHAT
IF I CAN’T ATTEND THE EVENT IN MY TOWN?
You’re welcome to attend whichever Kilowatts and Brats event works best for your schedule. Just be sure to RSVP for the location you plan to attend.
WHERE DO I RSVP?
RSVP by visiting mycentral.coop/ kilowatts or by scanning the QR code! Register for the Stillwater event on September 1, or the Chandler event on September 3.
6-7:30 pm • Sept. 1 Central’s Headquarters 3305 S. Boomer Road 6-7:30 pm • Sept 3 Tilghman Park 720 Park Road Stillwater Chandler
CAPITAL ADVENTURES ON YOUTH TOUR
Each year, Central hosts a contest for high school juniors living within Central’s service area to attend Youth Tour at our nation’s capital.
This year, Rhett Hayley from Chandler and Kyle Stokes from Stillwater were selected as winners. They visited Washington, D.C. in June with other winners from cooperatives across Oklahoma.
Central’s Marketing and Communications Specialists, Kory Bowman and Ivy Swan, joined the week-long trip as chaperones.
“Youth Tour is so much more than a trip to Washington, D.C.,” Bowman said. “It’s an opportunity for students to experience history rsthand, learn about government and see how cooperatives invest in the next generation of leaders.”
Hayley, Stokes, Bowman and Swan met U.S. Senators, visited national
monuments, historical sights, Smithsonian museums and cruised the Potomac River on a riverboat dinner cruise.
The participants competed against other high school juniors in an essay contest. The top ve nalists were interviewed, with Hayley and Stokes winning the week-long, all-expensepaid trip, and the three runner-up applicants receiving scholarships.
The Youth Tour competition for 2027 will open to high school juniors in September. Those interested in applying or who want to learn more can do so at mycentral. coop/youthtourinterest or by scanning the QR code.
SHARE THE ROAD WITH FARMERS
Rural living means sharing the road with large farm equipment, which can be wide and slow. When you nd yourself following or meeting large farm equipment on the road, take a deep breath and do the following to keep everyone safe.
! Be alert, cautious and give large farm equipment and other slow-moving vehicles space.
Central employee Kory Bowman, Rhett Hayley, Kyle Stokes and Central employee Ivy Swan.
! Do not pass in a “No Passing Zone,” or in any area where it is not safe to do so, such as intersections, bridges and railroad crossings, among others.
! Make sure the tractor is not trying to make a left turn before you pass on the left.
! Do not tailgate. Following too closely means you could be in the operator’s blind spot.
! Be careful when you do get the chance to pass. Oftentimes, farmers will move their equipment over when it is safe to do so.
For more safety tips, visit safeelectricity.org.
“It’s fun and rewarding to develop new products,” he said.
Among his newest innovations are handcrafted swarm traps designed using research on how honeybees choose new nesting sites. After reading scienti c studies showing bees are attracted to a particular shade of ultraviolet blue, Dustin designed and 3D-printed an attachment to help make the traps more effective.
He’s also developing an observation hive that allows people to safely view a working colony, making it easier to introduce others to the fascinating world of bees.
“As I grow my product line, I’m trying to nd more niche products that aren’t produced even nationally,” he said.
Ask Dustin what advice he gives new beekeepers, and his answer is immediate.
“The biggest mistake starting out is not learning as much as you can in the rst year,” he said. “You have
FROM THE HIVE UP
CONTINUED FROM FRONT
to be able to understand what they need. Education is paramount.”
The beekeeping community has played a major role in Triple Oak Acres’ success.
“Word of mouth has been really good,” Alicia Cantrell said. “Local beekeepers have been very supportive.”
The business regularly attends festivals, association meetings and conferences throughout the region, while also stocking products in Texas. Customers can order online for shipping or arrange pickup at the shop in Coyle.
For the Cantrells, one of the most rewarding parts of the business is seeing their customers succeed.
“We helped someone get started beekeeping, and they gave us a jar from their rst honey and that meant so much,” Dustin said. “One of the things that makes me the happiest is seeing the way people use my products.”
In addition to handcrafted beekeeping equipment, Triple Oak Acres offers locally produced honey, creamed honey, beeswax, lip balm, wood wax and other hive-related products. The business also provides hive extraction services, where they safely remove colonies of bees using specialized equipment. They even offer bees for apitherapy, which is bee venom therapy.
As demand continues to grow, Dustin and Alicia have their sights set on opening a physical retail store within the next ve years.
Until then, they’re happy doing what they love, building quality products, helping fellow beekeepers and caring for one of nature’s hardest-working pollinators.
Whether someone is interested in harvesting honey, improving their garden, supporting local agriculture or simply spending more time outdoors, Dustin believes beekeeping offers something for everyone.
