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Mountain Style

Neighborhood food trucks build community, one bite at a time

Teen style has a new set of terms, but is reminiscent of blasts from the past

TABLE TALK

Young people and their parents are driving a shift in thinking, hoping to break the “transgender” stigma

SLOW HOME

Hammocks have a multi-cultural and utilitarian past. Where will you hang yours this summer?

On The Farm

A history of range grazing and sharing public lands

WELLNESS WIRED

Rhythmic eating takes cues from Ayurveda as a way to combat inflammation

In Season

Move over sweet pastries— savory international flair graces your dinner table

40

Lift Like A Mom

Local mothers make strides in weightlifting, proving strength training should be a part of any woman’s daily routine.

By Deb Barracato

48

Child Care

The struggle is real for parents, as limited child care options draw high demand. Still, some families and facilities are making it work.

By Cherisé Forno

56

SOME MORE S’MORES!

Our twists on this classic campfire favorite include unexpected additions.

By Paulette Phlipot

I recently viewed an Instagram reel that showcased how children in Tokyo—some as young as five or six—commute to school by riding the subways on their own. The youngest ones wear yellow hats for safety at crosswalks, and to let adults know they may need extra help. The artist who posted this content, Timm Chiusano, comments, “Children in Japan have a tremendous amount of independence because they have decided, as a society, it is their collective responsibility to keep their children safe.”

It is their collective responsibility to keep their children safe. I ruminate over this statement as I digest the news of the 376th school shooting in our nation. What has happened to our societal obligation (taking the Second Amendment discussion off the table)? Why can’t our children navigate the streets of, say, New York, L.A., or Chicago, without our fear that something bad may happen? Maybe … because it sometimes does.

When I look at Japan’s societal gains and then try to equate them to ours in the States, time and time again, I come back to our small communities. If we can’t collectively support our children “out there in the big world,” at least we can instill community values right here at home. In Jackson and Teton Valley, children as young as five or six often bike, or even snow machine, to school, without fear of their neighbors (or what may happen to them once they get there). As a mountain community, we take pride in our safe towns; we let our kids ride the shuttle to the ski resorts or take public transportation—sometimes over a mountain pass in blizzard conditions—to get to school. We trust our fellow locals to keep our children safe. And it shows in our actions. Take, for instance, Driggs Mayor August Christensen, and Kristi Meston, who spearheaded the Collaborative for Early Learning to combat the daycare crisis in Teton Valley, Idaho. (See page 48.) Or Cheyenne SyvertsonHagestuen and Stephanie Brill who have established safe spaces for transgender and gender diverse kids and their families in Jackson. (Page 13.)

As a publication, we feel it’s our societal obligation to produce content that unites a community around the importance of keeping our kids, our culture, and our surrounding wild spaces safe. It’s a communal value that I don’t—even for one second—take for granted.

As we enter into the “free range-ness” of summer, let’s be sure to have our children’s backs. And not just our own, but all the children in our community. By doing so, we will foster their independence (just like the Japanese) and make a small dent in an important shift in consciousness— one that’s been lost, but is what small-town living is all about.

Contributing WRITERS

Molly Absolon writes to support her outdoor habit. She’d rather be hiking, biking, or skiing in the mountains than doing just about anything else. A former outdoor educator and current mother of a college kid, Molly lives in Victor, Idaho, with her husband.

Deb Barracato visited a friend in the Tetons more than thirty years ago and never left. She appreciates the flexible lifestyle her remote work as a communications strategist, writer, and editor allows. Deb’s free time is spent building quality memories with her son, Nathan.

Cherisé Forno traded the beach for the mountains, when she moved from California to Jackson. She is the copy editor for regional publications, and is the associate editor of Patio & Hearth Products Report. When she isn’t working, Cherisé enjoys hiking and playing soccer with her son.

Kristine Kopperud is a writer, editor, and end-of-life doula in Florida, with a layover of nearly twenty years in local-foods farming in the Midwest. She was a managing editor of Teton Valley Magazine, and is now a contributor for Becoming Jackson Whole. Follow her at kristinekopperud.com.

Olivia McGuire is a junior at Teton High School in Driggs. She enjoys being on the soccer field above all else, but can also be found downhill mountain biking at Targhee, paddleboarding the Teton River, and making sure her friend group’s style is always up to par.

Sue Muncaster is a freelance writer and communications consultant inspired by the mental, physical, and spiritual practices of a values-driven outdoor lifestyle. She lives in Teton Valley, where she serves on the Victor City Council. Follow her at suemuncaster.substack.com.

Fresh, healing food and recipes continue to connect Paulette Phlipot to her Teton family and friends, no matter how many miles separate them. She inspires wellness worldwide with her FoodAsArt® fine art photography collection and vivid photographs for editorial and commercial clients.

Tibby Plasse moved to Idaho in 2006 after dropping out of a Ph.D. program to snowboard. She found her way to Teton Valley and spent ten years dairy farming instead. Tibby lives at the base of the Big Hole Mountains with her son and two spoiled dogs, and contributes to regional publications.

Melissa Snider is an elementary teacher/librarian who wants to know what you’re reading. Her favorite adventure companions are her husband and two daughters. With both Adirondack and Rocky Mountain roots, Melissa’s happy place is lakeside with a great book.

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Publisher

Adam Meyer

Editor

Christina Shepherd McGuire christina@tetonfamilymagazine.com

Art Director

Samantha Nock

Copy Editor

Cherisé Forno

Contributing Photographers

Katie Cooney

Matt Donovan

Kristin Halsey

Reed Mattison

Julie Millard

Paulette Phlipot

Hannah Sourbeer

Kathryn Ziesig

Advertising Sales

Karen Brennan, Tom Hall, Megan LaTorre, Tatum Mentzer adsales@tetonmediaworks.com

Ad Production

Sarah Wilson, Lydia Redzich, Luis F. Ortiz, Heather Haseltine, Chelsea Robinson

Distribution

Jayann Carlisle, Oscar Garcia-Perez, Rulinda Roice

Kevin B. Olson, CEO

Teton Family is published two times a year and distributed at more than seventy-five locations for free throughout the Tetons. To request copies, call (307) 732-5903. Visit tetonfamilymagazine.com

© 2023 Teton Media Works, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this magazine’s original contents, whether in whole or in part, requires written permission from the publisher.