Reading Deborah Bechtel's June 18 commentary, "Lack of vision threatens growers," I was struck by her apparent view that Ventura County's farmers are somehow her enemy. We are described as "childish," "vindictive" and prone to selling land to developers during "temper tantrums." I hope I can assure her and some of her suburban neighbors that this is not the case.

First, I hope that she will note that while some farmer gave her the chance to live here by selling his land, there are still many others hard at work in the fields and orchards around her house. We do so because we love the land, we love the work, and we even like the chance to earn a living. To a degree that few of our suburban friends seem to appreciate, this land truly is our home. Fourth- and fifth-generation farmers are not uncommon in Ventura County. Generally, we have as little interest in sprawl as she does.

Are we stubborn? Mrs. Bechtel wouldn't be the first to call us that, but examining Ventura County's ever-changing crop mix suggests otherwise. It is tough to make a go of it here these days, and many farmers have tried different crops to remain viable. The decision to plant strawberries is simply the result of economic pressures, not of "temper tantrums."

Are we frustrated? Certainly. That much was evident in Link Leavens' June 12 letter, "Abandon SOAR experiment," to which she was responding.

When a farmer is not safe from the threat of litigation while simply doing his job in accordance with a mountain of federal, state and local regulations, he will get frustrated. To be allowed no other alternative use for the land is doubly so.

But, ultimately, she seemed to conclude that Ventura County farmers are not good citizens and neighbors. I would like to challenge her on this point and invite her to become engaged with organizations such as the Ventura County Civic Alliance. I think she will be pleasantly surprised to find many farmers working alongside our urban and suburban neighbors to keep Ventura County the wonderful place that our families have appreciated for so long. I hope she will join us.

— Chris Sayer lives in Santa Paula.