On March 31, 2003 Raymond F. Maude celebrates 50 years of employment at Stokes Seeds Limited.

Straight out of high school, at the age of eighteen, Ray started working in the Stokes Seeds Store, making deliveries and serving customers. From there he worked summers at the Stokes farm and trial gardens in the summer and packed seed orders in the winter months. In the mid 1950’s Ray became responsible for the farm and trial gardens as well as managing the Commercial Mail Order Department.

In 1963, Ray tried his hand at sales, starting out with a handful of customers in the Simcoe & Delhi area, growing his territory to include all of Ontario, Manitoba, then pioneering new business in the U.S. market with customers in New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio. In 1972, he assumed the role of International Sales Manager. His Sales department grew from three to the current size of sixteen. In 1994 a U.S. Sales Manager was hired so that Ray could concentrate on the Canadian market.

Besides Sales Manager, Ray has continued the management of the Stokes Farm Trials. Evaluation of the trials is done throughout the summer and fall seasons, working with John Gale and the purchasing department to determine what varieties will be in the Stokes annual catalog. Ray is also responsible for handling major commercial complaints, checking incoming seed through the strict quality control procedures, advise Purchasing and Order Processing staff on substitutions and product priorities.

Although Ray has been with Stokes for 50 years, he plans to continue lending his expertise in the area of Product Development as well as mentor the new Sales Manager, Jim Inksetter.