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.

“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. 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.”

This year has been especially challenging because of early drought conditions that limited flowering 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.

“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 scientific 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 find 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 first year,” he said. “You have 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 first 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 five 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.