Private burial will be held at Western Township Cemetery. Samuelson now hosts a similar show, This Week in Agribusiness, on RFD-TV, along with Armstrong. Feder flashback: So you think you know Chicago television. This would turn out to be his trademark generosity, as he mentored dozens of young broadcasters and interns over the coming decades. Join bestselling author Brad Montague in a Flip Live Event that inspires learners worldwide to embrace their creativity. Since July 2009, Armstrong has been director of broadcasting for Farm Progress. And for all of the listeners and for all of us who have had the great fortune to work with you here, we thank you. Last night, apropos of little to nothing, one of the hosts intoned that The New York Times and The Washington Post were far too left-wing for her to read. For 42 years, Max Armstrong and Orion Samuelson have partnered together, first on WGN radio, and later on the TV Show U.S. Farm Report, until creating the show This Week in Agribusiness.[1]. Sirott: What would you like the first sentence in your Wikipedia entry to say about you? During his over 60 years as a farm broadcaster, Samuelson interviewed nine presidents and traveled to 44 countries. [2], Many of those living in the Midwest over the past six decades remember the big, booming voice of Orion Samuelson that explained the business of agriculture and food production in an understandable way. Samuelson: It took me and I still cant believe this, but it took me two weeks to make the decision that I would leave Green Bay and go to Chicago, because Im a country boy. And yes, those programs often started and ended with an Ole and Lena joke. On 97.1 on Monday, the station's programming was one long, emotional tribute to Samuelsen, starting with Stone and Heather Park in the morning, and carrying over to Doug Karsch and Scott Anderson in middays. Orion Samuelson was born on a dairy farm in Ontario, Wisconsin, near LaCrosse. If you eat, youre involved in agriculture is the line hes used thousands of times at such events. [3], Since August 2005, Armstrong has been co-host and co-founder of This Week in AgriBusiness, owned and produced with Samuelson. Fox says disease is getting tougher, These were the deadliest national parks of 2022, List of most expensive ZIP codes released, These are the cheapest days of the week to buy gas, Correspondents Dinner requires balance: Comics, Oklahoma students attend star-studded Christian revival, Expert: Some bright spots in spring housing market, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Chicago radio legend Orion Samuelson is out of intensive care and recovering from heart-valve replacement surgery, his wife said Wednesday. 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. At WBAY, he crossed paths with a fellow ag communicator named. Samuelsen missed significant time over the last month as the diagnosis got worse. Read full biography, Yes, Orion Samuelson is still alive But, this is like the time when the conspiracy theory came true. said one researcher. , who would go on to found the agricultural communications program at the University of Illinois. I start speeches generally by saying, who would have thought that a cow milker from Wisconsin would meet nine presidents and any number of secretaries of agriculture and would write a book and would be a broadcaster for all of these years? But times and tastes changed, and in early 1960, ABC bought WLS and converted it to a rock-and-roll station. "The American Farmer's Best Friend for Over Sixty Years" tells about his humble beginnings on a Wisconsin dairy farm and how his big dreams led to a Hall of Fame career in broadcasting, travels to 43 countries, dinner at the White House and, most importantly, the trust of the hard working men and . There were many tears shed, including from listeners who called in, many of whom never met Samuelsen. From 1977 to 2009, Armstrong was the agri-business broadcaster for WGN Radio[2] before the program transitioned to a weekly Saturday morning show and accompanying podcast entitled The Morning Show with Orion and Max. Get an exclusive peek behind the scenes of The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination. just before graduating from the University of Illinois in agricultural communications. Wind noise is frequently loud on the tape. In the 1960s, Samuelson hosted an early-morning show on WGN-TV, Top 'O' the Morning, first with organist Harold Turner, then with Armstrong. He gave an emotional update last Monday on the air, saying he wasn't saying his goodbyes, but colleagues feared otherwise. He was a good guy and a good listener.[3]. He didnt find what he as looking for there, though, and within a few weeks, he transferred to the American Institute of the Air in Minneapolis, a six-month program that promised a radio broadcasting certificate. That is unheard of in this industry., Field Editor's Blog @AgNews_Doran: Best wishes to Orion in his retirement https://t.co/abTEj8w1v7. Informa Markets, a trading division of Informa PLC. Samuelsons travels took him to 44 countries. From Eddie Hubbard, Wally Phillips, Bob Collins and Spike O'Dell to Steve Cochran and Bob Sirott, Samuelson has been rising with WGN's morning stars and their listeners for an amazing six decades. Samuelson: Yeah, without a doubt. I couldnt believe it was happening, he says today. His voice is synonymous with agriculture news and after January Orion Samuelson will be stepping away from the microphone. Thats a lesson we should all learn, he adds quietly. If someone brought Orion fresh sweet corn or asparagus, he shared it with the engineers. He traveled with the Secretary of Agriculture and the Prime Minister of India to see the Taj Mahal. You cant respond to someone until you listen to them, and you cant ask the right questions until you learn where theyre coming from. Last check: 1 year ago. Theres a saying that todays news is tomorrows history, said Perdue. He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2003. And he championed the farmers cause. It is the dying refrain of a completed song, the final verse of a finished poem.Andr Maurois (18851967). Orion is currently the host, along with Max Armstrong, of This Week in AgriBusiness - www.agbizweek.com, Read more about this topic: Orion Samuelson, Just how difficult it is to write biography can be reckoned by anybody who sits down and considers just how many people know the real truth about his or her love affairs.Rebecca West [Cicily Isabel Fairfield] (18921983), Had Dr. Johnson written his own life, in conformity with the opinion which he has given, that every mans life may be best written by himself; had he employed in the preservation of his own history, that clearness of narration and elegance of language in which he has embalmed so many eminent persons, the world would probably have had the most perfect example of biography that was ever exhibited.James Boswell (174095), A great biography should, like the close of a great drama, leave behind it a feeling of serenity. Shes a beautiful lady and a beautiful partner, he says. Her work in agricultural media has been recognized by the Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Corn, Illinois Council on Agricultural Education and MidAmerica Croplife Association. In those early years at WGN, on both radio and live television, Orion honed his craft and his on-air work, including his signature pronunciation of the word ag-er-a-cul-ture, with a few extra syllables. Im still amazed at how many people say, I love that voice., They also appreciate his interviews, likely because hes a self-proclaimed better listener than a speaker.. Farm Progress Show annually hosts more than 600 exhibitors displaying new farm equipment, tractors, combines and farm implements; seed and crop protection products; and many additional farm supplies and services. In some ways, Orion Samuelsons life sounds like a fairy tale: Farm boy makes it big in the big city, travels the world and meets presidents. WGN Radios Orion Samuelson has graced airwaves throughout the heartland in places across the Midwest and beyond. Radio greats like Paul Harvey called on them to explain issues and provide a counterpoint when the latest anti-ag book came out. I just wasn't getting what I wanted, which was broadcasting. Later, Orion would earn an honorary doctor of letters from the U of I. Thats why I tell young people today to learn everything you can about everything and youll always have a job, Samuelson said. At the time, Samuelson credited 4-H with igniting his passion for agriculture and his first experiences with public speaking, ultimately leading to his broadcasting career. Jim was very professional, and I learned several things from him that I still use, Orion says. Orions stories of growing up on the family dairy in Ontario, Wis., are familiar to listeners: 30 milk cows, six sows, 200 chickens, 200 acres but only 90 tillable. Robert Feder, a lifelong Chicagoan, covered the media beat in his hometown from 1980 until his retirement in 2022. Orion Samuelson was just 27 years old when he made his way up North Michigan Avenue, striding toward the Tribune Tower. Sirott: Why have agriculture news and farm reports survived on WGN Radio in Chicago here long after that kind of broadcasting ended on other stations? Orion Samuelson AIS-V-L-2009-002 3 those sermons, never thinking that I'd someday be working (laughs) in the same studios that the Colonel was in. This page was last edited on 20 November 2022, at 09:03. On December 9th 2010 the southwest corner of E. Illinois Street & N. Cityfront Plaza Drive was named 'Orion Samuelson Way' by the city of Chicago. Orion Samuelson (/rin/ OR-ee-n; born March 31, 1934) is a retired American broadcaster, known for his agriculture broadcasts and his ability to explain agribusiness and food production in an understandable way. Max Armstrong's Tractor App received a Best of NAMA award, along with awards from the American Agricultural Editors' Association and American Web Design awards. All rights reserved. Tuesdays comment of the day: Irv Leavitt: I have recently developed the lazy habit of leaving WGN Radio on after a White Sox game, and I've been treated to product that varies from relatively intelligent to downright maddening. In 2011, Holly was one of 10 recipients worldwide to receive the IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Ag Journalism award. Orion was bridging the gap between the farm and the city before anyone else in the country thought about it., The first time I heard Max do the Farm Bureau reports, I said to my producer that if we ever need to get an associate at WGN farm department, Im going to call him, Samuelson recalled. The surgeon commented that Orion is further along than patients half his age. From hosting the WGN Radio Barn Dance to breaking the news to Chicagoans of the JFK assassination. After graduation, he moved to Grinnell, Iowa, where he lives with his wife, Heidi. Thats why I titled my book, You Cant Dream Big Enough, Samuelson said about his book published in 2012. The hall of fame broadcaster and Chicago media icon says he'll end his run at the end of the year. ORION-Richard Duane Samuelson, 93, of Orion, passed away Tuesday, April 27, 2021, at his home. [6], During the 1960s, Samuelson hosted an early-morning show on WGN-TV, Top 'O' the Morning, first with organist Harold Turner, then with Max Armstrong. His grandparents were Norwegian immigrants, and the first time Orion made his way to Norway, the spot his grandparents chose to homestead made more sense: steep hills with buildings carved into them. It was Sept. 26, 1960, and as he headed toward his first day on the job at WGN, a singular thought ran through his head. Orion Samuelson was just 27 years old when he made his way up North Michigan Avenue, striding toward the Tribune Tower. The man continues to repeat the introduction until Orion continues. [1] He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2003. I read about this in the encyclopedia, but now Im standing here looking at it. At 97.1, which he joined in 2012, he first co-hosted with News columnist Bob Wojnowski for four years, and since 2016 he has worked with Mike Stone. He has has served on the National 4-H Council Board of Trustees and in 2017 began working with the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation to raise $500,000 to support livestock programming. Thank you. At age 26, Samuelson got the call to join 50,000-watt powerhouse WGN, where he began as farm director on September 26, 1960. Samuelson: The biggest change, besides technology, it would be the fact that agriculture is international because when I started in the business, South America, Brazil, wasnt even in the soybean situation. He was cut from the same cloth as Paul Harvey. It would also be the last first day Orion Samuelson would ever have. [14], In 2014 the CME Group and the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Foundation announced the inaugural recipient of the Orion Samuelson Scholarship ($5,000) for a senior at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. That was the ticket. FAIRY TALE? Why? [7] The induction ceremony took place on May 27, 2016, where Armstrong was honored along with 6 others. I tend to wait until tomorrow, but she said, Look at this now, because we dont wait, Orion recalls. April 24, 2023 / 10:16 AM / CBS Detroit. And we accepted ideas from other people because if you stop learning, you stop living., Orion worked with the Illinois Farm Bureau to put together a farm-city exchange in the early 70s and it was still going in 1977 when I started at WGN, Armstrong said. Orion Samuelson was born on a dairy farm in Ontario, Wisconsin, near LaCrosse. The University of Illinois presented Samuelson with the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters. Samuelson received a custom-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. He met McDonald when she worked at Fox 2 and was producing for Bill Bonds, and the couple had three children,Caroline, 16, Josh, 14, and Catherine, 11. You arent alone. American agricultural broadcast journalist, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Christmas Eve air check from Radio Hall of Fame, "Robservations: WGN Radio names Steve Alexander to succeed Orion Samuelson - Robert Feder", "Legendary agribusiness broadcaster Orion Samuelson on 60 years", "President Trump makes surprise phone call during Decatur Farm Progress Show", "Radio Hall of Fame - Orion Samuelson, Farm Broadcaster", "WGN's Orion Samuelson to have heart surgery", "Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation Board of Directors", "CME Group and NAFB Foundation to Award First-Ever Orion Samuelson Scholarship for Agricultural Communications", "Orion Samuelson to retire after 60 years at WGN Radio", "Laureates by Year - The Lincoln Academy of Illinois", Legendary agribusiness broadcaster Orion Samuelson on 60 years, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Orion_Samuelson&oldid=1105630782, Short description is different from Wikidata, BLP articles lacking sources from May 2008, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Orion Samuelson was inducted as a Laureate of, This page was last edited on 21 August 2022, at 02:59. [1], Armstrong's first job out of college was for the Illinois Farm Bureau as a Broadcast Editor, which was where he met Orion Samuelson. Orion Samuelson and his wife, Gloria, were kind enough to allow me to introduce myself and even pose for a quick picture. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. They dont want you to retire. [4] The show is a weekly agriculture television show, produced by OMAX Communications, LLC in cooperation with 22 Creative Group and Farm Progress. Enjoy the next phase of your life. She began her career with. And I think, what am I doing standing here? He went one further when he got Orion into public speaking contests. Kate Sullivan so grateful for CBS 2 run, My childhood dream became the honor of a lifetime, Robservations: Sun-Times moving to Old Post Office; ABC 7 opens weekend anchor slot; Medill tracks local news decline, Robservations: StreetWise raises cover price; Sventoonie takes a break; Friends of Chicago Reporter mark 50. In the clip the announcer says, "Now, here's Orion Samuelson," but Orion seems not to have heard! A montage of photos of the life and career of WGN Radio legend Orion Samuelson.For more, visit wgnradio.com/orion. "They werent teaching me to be a broadcaster, they were teaching me to be a writer. Orion and his first wife adopted two children, David and Katheryn. Last . I think what has been missed by many is that Orion was an agvocate at least 40 years before most farmers knew they should be, said Max Armstrong, who has worked with Samuelson for the past 43 years. In addition to working with farmers and ranchers, Orion Samuelson has also been involved with activities outside of the agricultural industry, including emceeing at the Tournament of Roses Parade with co-host Pam Minick. Orion Samuelson started his career at WGN Radio in September 1960, when the presidential election involved Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. CHICAGO ( NewsNation Now) One of the most famous voices in radio will end a remarkable 60-year career later this month. [9], In 2015, Armstrong published his first book, titled "Stories from the Heartland. That's because he'd dropped out as an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin at Madison after only three months. The president of WGN who believed firmly in serving the audience beyond Chicago out into the farmland of the Midwest didnt want a break in the farm broadcast coverage, Samuelson said. His early work was based in Wisconsin, at WKLJ in Sparta, WHBY in Appleton, and WBAY-TV/AM in Green Bay. Norma And today theyre the biggest producer and the biggest exporter of soybeans. I love being in the countryside and on farms. At Purdue University, Armstrong received honors as an "Old Master" in 2005 and was recognized as a "Noted Alumnus" in the 2009 'Facts at Your Fingertips.' The number of Americans seeking mental health treatment isalmost twiceas high as it was two decades ago. This job changed the direction of my career immensely.. She spotted early signs of a serious illness one day in 2004, during a television broadcast. Like regular Orion, Air Orion will retire soon, too. "When I made the drive in my 1949 blue Chrysler New Yorker 60 years ago, I was very uncertain about what I was getting into, because I was a farm kid [thinking], What will I do in the big city?. A beloved hall of fame broadcaster and Chicago media icon if there ever was one, Samuelson, 86, informed his bosses hell bow out at the end of the year. He was born on March 31, 1934 in . The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. He served as master of ceremonies for thousands of shows and crowned dozens of queens, using his own plane to travel efficiently. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Payday lenders operate in 32 states, and about 12 million Americans use payday loans each year. Samuelson, 81, veteran agriculture-business. As a farm boy on a milk stool on a cold January morning in a barn in Wisconsin, I could have never dreamed I would have the opportunity to do what Ive done and meet the people Ive met.. Samuelson: Well, because we were able to talk more than planting corn or soybeans. Please help me find a news bloopers with Orion Samuelson. Max Armstrong was named an Honorary Master Farmer in 2018 by Prairie Farmer Magazine. joined Orion at WGN in 1977, and as they spent the next 43 years together on air, they developed a seamless rapport. That mildly understated assessment launched the phenomenally successful WGN career that Orion is now retiring from, 60 years later. Hell retire from WGN Radio at the end of this month, recording a landmark 60 years on WGN and creating original television programs such as U.S. The family farm includes Johns parents and their three children. I think Ive made some progress and then Ill get a call or letter from a listener who wants to know how to tell if a watermelon is ripe just by looking at it, he said. That I could explain the strange business of agriculture and food production in a way that was understandable, and that I was a good guy and a good listener. Everyone loved him the engineers and everyone behind the scenes, he describes. So Id get up in the morning and Id help dad milk cows. Sid and Mona Samuelson made a good life for Orion and his younger sister, Norma. Wellman farmer Clint Whetstine stands in front of destroyed pens and barns from tornado. It used to be in a compilation of news bloopers from the 70s and/or 80s, but I can't find it anymore. [1] Broadcast History [ edit] Armstrong's first job out of college was for the Illinois Farm Bureau as a Broadcast Editor, which was where he met Orion Samuelson. She currently serves on the Illinois Fairgrounds Foundation, the U of I Agricultural Communications Advisory committee, and is an advisory board member for the U of I College of ACES Research Station at Monmouth. Young Orion was a tall kid headed for the basketball team the summer before high school when he was afflicted with a rare disease known as Legg-Perthes disease. Orion is now single. She also had high praise for his care at University of Chicago. David is retired from a career as a trader on the Chicago Board of Trade and has two children of his own, and Katheryn is in the restaurant business. Heres how the Chicago media icon has told agricultures story. These stories were also translated into Max Armstrong's Tractor App, launched in 2013. Orion Samuelsons decades of agriculture reporting has helped farmers understand the latest Washington policies and he has also helped all audiences appreciate the importance of agriculture to our communities and to the economy.. It was Sept. 26, 1960, and as he headed toward his first day on the job at WGN, a singular thought ran through his head. The winner of more awards and inductee in more halls of fame than he can count, Samuelson said one of the honors he cherishes most is the honorary doctor of letters degree he received from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2001. The self-described "unknown cow milker from western Wisconsin" was born on a dairy farm near LaCrosse, and got his start on radio stations in Sparta, Appleton and Green Bay. Well known ag broadcaster Orion Samuelson will retire this month after 60 years in the field. He hopes to give the Illinois State Fair Sale of Champions another go in 2021 working hard to create some magic in the Coliseum for young livestock exhibitors. "Well go back and forth to Arizona and not have to worry about setting the alarm clock and making sure Im ready for the next report," he said. Samuelson was born on a dairy farm in Ontario, Wisconsin, near LaCrosse. While at WGN radio in Chicago, the "Big O"covered agriculture and food production, met with U.S. presidents, travelled to dozens of countries, and encountered many foreign dignitaries, all while reporting on the contributions of American agriculture to the U.S. and world economy. Luckily, a copycat recipe is easy enough to copy. This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. We operate in different ways. "How do you say goodbye to a man who made everyone feel like a friend?". The Radio Hall of Famer had said he hoped to be back on WGN in time to celebrate his 55th anniversary with the station September 25. 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. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. In 2015, she became only the 10th U.S. agricultural journalist to earn the Writer of Merit designation and is a five-time winner of the top writing award for editorial opinion in U.S. agriculture. According to the website, the country's best known ag broadcaster had deep roots in Wisconsin, with his first 4-H project being a Guernsey heifer calf. In 2011, Holly was one of 10 recipients worldwide to receive the IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Ag Journalism award. [5], In 2001, Armstrong was named Farm Broadcaster of the Year by the NAFB. Lions head coach Matt Patricia, on his own, called into 97.1 on Monday morning to share his sympathies.
Mentally Unstable Monologues, Was Ron Desantis Married Before, Organizational Structure Of A Professional Sports Team, Articles O