“...grew up on an Iowa hog farm.”
Can’t get more Iowan than that.
Nothing like dealing with a herd of swine to teach anybody about the art of successfully managing stress and conflict. Danged hog gets you down on the ground, they will eat you.
Outside of leading a combat team in armed conflict, not much else will teach a person how to approach and carry out some pretty difficult duties.
Nothing like dealing with a herd of swine to prepare you for working with your fellow Congresscritters.