The Midwest is an area that Paul Lasley, ISU professor of rural sociology, knows well. Lasley extensively researches rural communities, and he applies this knowledge in the classroom.

Lasley teaches Sociology 325, “Agriculture in Transition.” He said his extension and research have a direct effect on the class, and it in turn affects his communication with people.

“As a faculty member with responsibilities in research, extension and teaching, I try to maintain an integrated program,” he said.

Lasley also tries to show students how the class is relevant to current agricultural situations. For example, he took several of his students to a round table discussion at the Feb. 22 Governor’s Strategic Planning Committee on the future of agriculture.

“I use examples from real life in the classroom to help students understand the readings when dealing with real world issues,” he said.

The professor is also committed to his speaking engagements and educating the larger community.

Lasley has been part of Iowa’s Farm and Rural Life Poll for the past 20 years. The poll is a statewide survey that monitors a variety of indicators of socio-economic directions in rural economies.

He speaks about 50 times a year to small communities about his findings. Almost 80 percent of the towns are in the Midwest, with two-thirds in Iowa.

Steve Padgitt, interim director of ISU Extension, said Lasley’s research is invaluable to Midwest towns.

“Lasley brings real insight into the processes that are going on, and he’s able to use that as he documents the trends in rural societies,” Padgitt said.

In his research, Lasley has found rural communities and farms are undergoing many changes. He said the future of these areas will depend on how they adapt.

The communities are concerned about the future, and for good reason, he said. One-third to one-half of the communities are under financial hardship and pressure, which is creating a lot of stress, Lasley said.

Others are doing well but are still worried.

“People are anxious in tough times, but also in good times for fear of things going bad,” Lasley said.

He said people within the communities raise a number of concerns about the future of agriculture. The feedback generally falls into four areas: the next farm bill, the value of land, the changing face of rural communities and an increasing number of what were once considered “urban” problems.

As for the future of farms, Lasley said they will eventually break down into three different areas.

“Agriculture will be distinguished by either food, feed or fuel,” Lasley said. He said agriculture will be energy producers, not just consumers, through either solar energy, biomass or wind energy.