Back on the ranch, Lyall says he is optimistic about Pauma Valley’s future. His greatest hope is that the long-held traditions of family farming in the valley don’t disappear. “There’s a bit of generational change that I’m seeing,” he says. “The sons and grandsons of the men like my father, who are the foundations of this farming community, have a different attitude, and the guys who founded this farming community are getting up there. “One of our ranching neighbors is in his 80s. The multigenerational farming families are not all here anymore. But some of us are in Pauma Valley for the long haul.” Lyall welcomes visitors to Pauma. When he’s working on the ranch and close to the fence near the roads, people sometimes stop and ask him about the valley. “I usually toss them a fresh orange first, because there’s nothing better than a fresh orange,” he quips. “Then I tell them to have fun at the casino, but don’t forget that there is so much more to see here.”
Lyall Looks Forward and Welcomes Visitors
