Poll looks at minority integration in rural Iowa

This year’s “Iowa Farm and Rural Life” poll asked questions about the impact of minorities on Iowa’s rural areas. It’s the first time in the poll’s 18-year history questions have been asked about minorities. Sociologist Paul Lasley directs the poll conducted by Iowa State University.He says forty-three percent of those responding said there are minorities living or working in their community. Lasley says less than 50-percent of those surveyed believed minorities had become well integrated into the community.Lasley says it’s too early to tell if the immigrants are fitting into rural Iowa communities with just one year of data. Lasley says fitting into a community takes time for anyone, minority or otherwise.Lasley says accepting someone new into a community is a slow process regardless of whether it’s a rural or urban area.