When Ray Sitorius started growing hemp with the Stanley Brothers, no one knew what they hell to do, but they were determined to make it work. There were 15,000 people on a waiting list for the Stanley’s CBD, and the only way to deliver was to grow outside. The stakes could not have been higher. One problem: Ray did not know anything about hemp, and the Stanley’s didn’t know anything about large scale farming. They started out on their hands and knees, with shovels in a field, and Ray quickly introduced them to tractors and mechanization and modern technology.
Over the last six years, Ray has gotten one heck of an education, always innovating, and striving to be better. But as Ray says, no matter how much you think you’re in control and you do it right, Mother Nature is gonna tell you what you’re gonna get, when you’re gonna get it and how much. Through all the struggles and unknowns, Ray knows he has found his calling. As a young boy he knew he wanted to be a farmer, but he never could have imagined it would be hemp and helping people in such profound ways.
About the Filmmaker:
Jeremy Seifert is an award-winning film director, cinematographer, and editor whose documentaries have premiered at Sundance, Berlinale, Hot Docs, Tribeca, and AFI DOCS. He co-directed The Devil We Know, a 2018 Sundance documentary in competition and Netflix premiere. His short documentary The Church Forests of Ethiopia was selected as a New York Times Op-Doc. His films GMO OMG and DIVE! Living Off America’s Waste won over 30 awards at festivals around the world and both had online premiers on Netflix. Jeremy is also the creator and director of Truefolk, a series featuring master makers and artisans. He has directed and DP’d over 20 films for nonprofits around the world.
- Runtime14 minutes
- FilmmakerJeremy Seifert
When Ray Sitorius started growing hemp with the Stanley Brothers, no one knew what they hell to do, but they were determined to make it work. There were 15,000 people on a waiting list for the Stanley’s CBD, and the only way to deliver was to grow outside. The stakes could not have been higher. One problem: Ray did not know anything about hemp, and the Stanley’s didn’t know anything about large scale farming. They started out on their hands and knees, with shovels in a field, and Ray quickly introduced them to tractors and mechanization and modern technology.
Over the last six years, Ray has gotten one heck of an education, always innovating, and striving to be better. But as Ray says, no matter how much you think you’re in control and you do it right, Mother Nature is gonna tell you what you’re gonna get, when you’re gonna get it and how much. Through all the struggles and unknowns, Ray knows he has found his calling. As a young boy he knew he wanted to be a farmer, but he never could have imagined it would be hemp and helping people in such profound ways.
About the Filmmaker:
Jeremy Seifert is an award-winning film director, cinematographer, and editor whose documentaries have premiered at Sundance, Berlinale, Hot Docs, Tribeca, and AFI DOCS. He co-directed The Devil We Know, a 2018 Sundance documentary in competition and Netflix premiere. His short documentary The Church Forests of Ethiopia was selected as a New York Times Op-Doc. His films GMO OMG and DIVE! Living Off America’s Waste won over 30 awards at festivals around the world and both had online premiers on Netflix. Jeremy is also the creator and director of Truefolk, a series featuring master makers and artisans. He has directed and DP’d over 20 films for nonprofits around the world.
- Runtime14 minutes
- FilmmakerJeremy Seifert