Orion Samuelson is an American broadcaster, most widely known for his agriculture broadcasts. He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2003.
Biography
Samuelson was born on a dairy farm in Ontario, Wisconsin, near LaCrosse. He considered becoming a Lutheran pastor before deciding on six months of radio school. His early work was based in Wisconsin, at WKLJ in Sparta, WHBY in Appleton, and WBAY-TV/AM in Green Bay. He is best known for his association with WGN Radio in Chicago, serving as the station's head agriculture broadcaster since 1960. In May of 1960, one of Mr. Samuelson's first assignments for WGN was to Emcee the National Barn Dance, a long running program that WGN had just acquired when WLS radio discontinued its association with Prairie Farmer Magazine. WLS had become "The Station With Personality" and started playing Rock and Roll. Three years into his tenure at WGN, he was the staffer that read the news of the John F. Kennedy assassination. He currently co-hosts the Morning Show on Saturdays. In addition, Samuelson hosts a three-minute daily "National Farm Report", and a weekly commentary, "Samuelson Sez"; both are syndicated to various stations across the country. In the 1960s, Samuelson hosted an early-morning show on WGN-TV, Top 'O' the Morning, first with organist Harold Turner, then with Armstrong. From 1975 to 2005, Samuelson also was the host of U.S. Farm Report, a weekly television news magazine dedicated to agriculture; U.S. Farm Report has continued without Samuelson since his departure. Samuelson now hosts a similar show, This Week in Agribusiness, along with Armstrong. Both shows have aired in first-run syndication. Politically, Samuelson is a significant supporter of the use of ethanol fuel as derived from corn, as he feels its use will help American farmers. On the lighter side, Samuelson and a studio group dubbed the "Uff da Band" once recorded covers of Yogi Yorgesson's novelty songs I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas and Yingle Bells. Samuelson has held the same job in the broadcasting industry for 55 consecutive years, second only to Los Angeles Dodgers Radio Network announcer Vin Scully. In 2001, Samuelson was named a Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois and was awarded the Order of Lincoln – the highest award bestowed by the State of Illinois. The University of Illinois also presented Samuelson with the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters. Orion Samuelson was honored at the 2010 Wisconsin Corn/Soy Expo in Wisconsin Dells. Samuelson received a specially engraved Norwegian horse plaque to commemorate the occasion from presidents of the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, the Wisconsin Soybean Association, the Wisconsin Agri-Services Association and the Wisconsin Pork Association. On December 9, 2010 the southwest corner of E. Illinois Street & N. Cityfront Plaza Drive was named 'Orion Samuelson Way' by the city of Chicago.
Orion Samuelson was inducted as a Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois and awarded the Order of Lincoln by the Governor of Illinois in 2001 in the area of Communication and Agriculture.
