In the Midwest farming states it has a lot to do with the fact that local news is pretty much owned by Republicans. So, there is so much that is just not presented to you unless you go looking for it, which you are unlikely to do just on your own, out of the blue.

And, as long as the farm subsidies keep getting approved, let's be honest---these guys are still making bank. I know a local guy from around Abilene, KS whose dad owns several thousand acres of wheat land. (This guy (my acquaintance) is a gay, Democrat, but his parents are died in the wool Republicans. He is still in the closet to them at the age of 55-60 so he doesn't lose his inheritance.) Anyway, he tells about how in the 80's his dad would make over $200,000 a year for simply not planting anything on a certain number of acres.

It's all about knowing how to work the system, and a lot of these guys know how to do that even if they don't know shit about global politics or even national topics.