Well, they have 2 senators like all the other states... perhaps though that's suggesting that they're sparsely populated so their senators seem out of proportio

Well, they have 2 senators like all the other states... perhaps though that's suggesting that they're sparsely populated so their senators seem out of proportion to the small number of voters they represent (compared to their Representatives, who are few compared to populous states like CA, NY, TX, GA etc.) The Iowa caucus system certainly is an attention-grab, but I don't think it's single-handedly responsible for the whole system of ag subsidies (which presumably has also been championed by other farm states like NE and KS).