Betsy Blanchard Chess will speak about the history of agriculture in Ventura County and her new book, “Daughter of the Land.” Ms. Chess is fourth generation farming and ranching in the county. Her family started and still operates Limoneira, one of the leading distributors of lemons, avocados, and other produce throughout America and internationally. Ms. Chess is a longtime champion and friend of Ventura County agriculture.
The event will be at the Foster Library in on Sunday, October 24, and presented by the Friends of the Library. There will be a display of historical pictures and artifacts featured in the book. Ms. Chess begins speaking at 1:45 for twenty minutes, and then a Q&A will follow. Learn about the state of Foster Library during the Pandemic and how it continues to serve the community. This is a free event. Ms. Chess will have copies of the book for sale.
In “Daughter of the Land,” Betsy Chess presents captivating vignettes of her many relatives and their impact on Santa Paula and the verdant Santa Clara Valley of Ventura County. She provides insight into marginalized communities that for 125 years have constituted the majority of the workforce for the citrus capital of the world. Daughter of the Land sweeps readers through almost 200 years of a family’s history yet is grounded in hard work and delight of life on the ranch. It presents a unique view, in words and pictures, of a way of living that no longer exists.
For more information about the book, visit BetsyChess.com.
