The family moved to Santa Monica where Burnand grew up and attended the University of California at Davis, majoring in agriculture.

After working in the fields, he soon acquired his own vineyard, and met the DiGiorgio family, at the time the largest grape growers in the world.

Burnand and Churchill sailed together frequently, were close friends, and also went into business together as fruit and vegetable brokers in the San Joaquin Valley.

The heat, high winds and winter cold made growing grapes in Borrego difficult - but despite some failures Burnand had spent enough time in the Valley to see its potential as a resort.

He began buying up railroad in-holdings in the Park area, and trading them with the State for valley land as well as picking up property from tax sales and homesteaders wanting out.

At the end of 1954, the Los Angeles investors are bought out by Texas Oilman and La Jolla Farms owner William Black; San Diego Union Tribune publisher James Copley and the DiGiorgio Fruit Corporation, represented by vice president Robert DiGiorgio.

To insure through proper zoning and planning the orderly development of Borrego Valley as one of San Diego County's outstanding tourist and vacation areas.

To establish a long range program to attract home owners and additional resort facilities to Borrego 4.