Spring 2009

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Rural Sociologist Enjoys the Lifestyle She Studies

Lois Wright Morton tends to her bees on her acreage near Ames. The rural sociologist studies how communities work together to address water quality issues and otherwise better their quality of life.

The natural independence of bees and the quiet serenity of maintaining beehives proves to be the perfect pastime for rural sociologist Lois Wright Morton. Her ten-acre farmstead, complete with a red raspberry patch, beehives and refurbished farmhouse, keeps her immersed in the lifestyle she studies.

Colleagues of Morton's appreciate her efforts when they receive a jar of honey or raspberry jam. Much like her list of hobbies, her research may seem like an eclectic grouping of interests, but is centered on the concept of "civic structure."

Morton researches how communities are organized and how people work together for the benefit of their communities.

"Of particular interest is how people connect with each other, identify their concerns and then proactively develop plans to move their community forward in ways that increase the quality of life," she says.

Morton is currently writing a book titled The Citizen Effect: Pathways for Getting to Better Water Quality Outcomes, which looks at how citizens can work together within their watershed community to address non-point source agriculture pollution. Morton's book draws on research and extension activities conducted under two major grants, the Heartland Integrated Water Quality Coordination Initiative and Developing Leadership for Performance-based Environmental Management.

Both projects apply sociological concepts to strengthen relationships among community residents, farmers and technical watershed specialists to better address water quality issues on working agricultural lands.

"We look at how community leaders can become catalysts in their watershed and help each other better manage their productive agricultural lands in ways that also protect and enhance water quality," she says.

Morton has always been a member of an agriculture community. Originally a farm girl from Ohio, she moved to upstate New York, where she raised red raspberries, asparagus, flowers and her children on 30 acres. She worked as an extension associate at Cornell University while completing her doctorate in rural sociology. She received her master's and bachelor's from Syracuse University and Bowling Green State University respectively.

Iowa's incredible soil and Morton's dream of living on an Iowa farm to fulfill a passion for growing things are what brought Morton and her husband, Michael, to Iowa State in 1999. Plans dramatically changed in 2003 when Michael died. That Christmas, Morton's father gave her a beehive as a gift in hopes she would diversify her interests in her after-work hours. He gave her a new beehive every year for the next three years, and she was hooked.

Morton stresses that much of her academic success is directly related to her colleagues and graduate students, who she appreciates for their fresh perspective and enthusiasm.

Morton's future research will look at our natural resource base and the "co-production" of agricultural products and environmental services.

"Here in the Heartland, we must find innovative ways to manage our agricultural lands to protect and enhance our fragile natural resource base while producing agricultural foods, feeds, fibers and fuels," she says.