This article explores the multifaceted life of Megan Torgerson, weaving together her personal experiences with weight loss, her roles as a mother and coach, and her reflections on the changing landscape of farming. Through her story, we gain insights into the challenges and triumphs of balancing personal well-being, family life, and a deep connection to the land.
From Pandemic Workouts to Personal Well-being
Megan Torgerson's story includes her daughters, Charlotte and Izzy, and their shared experiences with basketball. The COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges. With gyms closed, Megan and her daughters transformed their garage into a makeshift training facility. They focused on ball handling, agility, finishing, and post moves. Megan invested in weight equipment, and the family embarked on a rigorous workout schedule, six days a week for four months. These outdoor workouts, held in their backyard and at Junaluska Park in Boone, became a bonding experience.
Beyond basketball, Megan also sheds light on her personal health journey. She shares her diagnosis with Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune condition affecting the thyroid gland. This diagnosis led to a significant weight loss of nearly 40 pounds. During this time, she encountered an academic article linking glyphosate exposure to an increased risk of thyroid disease. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup, a common herbicide used on farms. While Megan acknowledges the lack of definitive proof, the article offered a potential explanation for her condition. This discovery sparked her curiosity about organic food and alternative farming methods.
Balancing Family, Coaching, and Education
Megan's life is a tapestry of roles: a mother, a basketball coach, and an online writing instructor. She is an assistant coach for the girls basketball team at Watauga High School in Boone, North Carolina. Her flexible teaching schedule allows her to be present for morning workouts and after-school practices.
Her daughters, Charlotte and Izzy, are also deeply involved in basketball. Charlotte, a high school sophomore, achieved her goal of making the varsity team. Izzy, an eighth grader, has shown a growing enthusiasm for the sport. Megan emphasizes the importance of hard work and perseverance, instilling these values in her daughters. She highlights the challenges Izzy faced when she experienced limited playing time on her team. However, Izzy's response to this challenge was inspiring. She began practicing independently and improved her fitness.
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Megan cherishes the moments she spends with her daughters, whether it's walking them to school or sharing in their athletic pursuits. She embraces her role as a supportive and encouraging parent.
Reframing Rural: A Look at Changing Farming Practices
Megan's upbringing on a conventional farm in Montana instilled in her a deep appreciation for the land and the farming community. However, her personal health journey and research into glyphosate exposure prompted her to explore organic and regenerative farming practices.
She highlights the story of John Wicks, an organic farmer in Ledger, Montana, who converted his family's farm to organic practices after contracting chemical pneumonia from Roundup exposure. John's regenerative techniques, including crop rotation, cover cropping, and livestock integration, are building topsoil and promoting sustainability.
Megan acknowledges the challenges and complexities of transitioning to organic farming. She recognizes that conventional farming practices have contributed to increased crop yields. However, she also emphasizes the potential of organic and regenerative agriculture to help farms weather severe drought and promote environmental health.
Megan's perspective is nuanced and balanced. She believes that farmers are best equipped to make decisions about their operations, and that conventional and organic farming practices can coexist. She seeks to bridge the gap between these different approaches, fostering dialogue and understanding.
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Megan also delves into the challenges of farm succession, as her father prepares to retire from farming. She explores the emotional and financial considerations involved in transferring the farm to the next generation. Her family's journey reflects the broader trends in rural communities, as fewer young people are choosing to take over their family farms.
Love and Faith in the Gray Areas
Megan Torgerson is also the associate pastor at Augustana Lutheran Church in West St. Paul, Minn. Her religious background informs her perspective on life and love. She embraces the Lutheran concept of living in the "gray" areas, balancing seemingly contradictory ideas.
She emphasizes the importance of self-love alongside love for others and love for God. Drawing from Christian teachings, she argues that loving one's neighbor as oneself requires both outward compassion and inward care. She cautions against the trap of excessive other-love, which can lead to exhaustion and resentment. She also warns against the pitfall of narcissism, where self-love eclipses the needs of others and the love of God.
Megan advocates for a balanced approach to life, where self-care and service to others are intertwined. She believes that love is not a black-or-white concept, but a continuous dance between self-love and other-love, measured by the fullness of one's love for God.
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