FROM: Sister Anna Mary Meyer, CSJ

  As always, I enjoyed reading this month's newsletter. There are so many "things" happening in Lakeside with so many names attached to them that bring back many memories of times gone by.
  The article on the History of the Agriculture Program at Grossmont High School really brought back a flood of memories.  I went to Grossmont all four years, from 1950 to 1954, and have very happy and fond memories from those years and the people who went with them.
I was in the Agriculture Department all four years under the instruction of Jim Dyer. In addition to him, we had Ralph Brown in my freshman year. Unfortunately for us all, he passed away during the summer at the end of that year. A Mr. Boley replaced him for the next three years and he was replaced by someone whose name escapes me.
  Jim Dyer was a great teacher and as time went on became a good friend and peer in the livestock work in which I was involved for a number of years, having my own small ranch and being deeply involved with the 4-H club work and the East County and Del Mar Fairs (as well as many others).
  Jim was always available to the FFA kinds and the parents. The same held true with myself for the 4-H kinds and their folks. It was a great time when people really worked together for the good of all. (Perhaps a lesson our country needs at this time!). We worked hard with a definite purpose and enjoyed a lot of fun and funny times and events with an attitude that you can always laugh with but not at others (except yourself!).
  I was deeply saddened when a fried from Lakeside sent me the obituary on Jim Dyer, but I'm sure he has a "great flock" to tend where he is now. I remember when he and Shirley had their children and watched them grow up. He used to say they had two families due to the gap of time between the first set and the second.
  It is both good and yet sad to see that El Cap is the only surviving Agriculture Program. When I graduated from Grossmont, San Diego County ranked 9^th in total agriculture production in the United States and was very diversified. Now, there isn't a truly productive farm or ranch left in the county thanks to "development", with I prefer to refer to as demolition!
  Again, thanks for the historical article that really speaks to what once was and what no longer is on the God given land that we have managed to plaster over with cement and then wonder why we have flood problems. Anyone for a concrete sandwich?