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. He was honored at the 2010 Wisconsin Corn/Soy Expo in Wisconsin Dells. Armstrong was full-time with WGN Radio for 32 years until 2009. Bush, who invited me to join him at the White House studio for the interview.. 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. An award-winning writer and photographer, Holly is past president of the American Agricultural Editors Association. He will retire from WGNs airwaves on Dec. 31. USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue recently honored Samuelson with a proclamation heralding the broadcaster's long career in ag journalism. [15], On September 23, 2020, Samuelson announced his retirement from WGN Radio. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. He went one further when he got Orion into public speaking contests. The number of Americans seeking mental health treatment isalmost twiceas high as it was two decades ago. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Group Inc. | All Rights Reserved. joined Orion at WGN in 1977, and as they spent the next 43 years together on air, they developed a seamless rapport. One time I was at a White House dinner to honor Norman Borlaug. As that door closed in Chicago, another opened at WGN when the station picked up the farm programming torch and Orion was invited to walk in. Armstrong was a member of NAFB for 40 years before being elected president. 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. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Max and Orion spent 31 years together on WGN, until Max left in 2009 to join Farm Progress. The second is a parody of the poem " A Visit from Saint Nicholas ." TROY, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) - A Lake Orion man hit the pavement this weekend to run a marathon for a great cause to give back to Henry Ford Health. Shes a beautiful lady and a beautiful partner, he says. 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. It feels like a fairy tale! We dont quote the frozen pork belly market any more, but my quick answer to that question is, if you had a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich today, you had a frozen pork belly, Samuelson said. They still do a one-hour radio show together every Saturday at 5a.m., and they partner on This Week in AgriBusiness, airing on television stations nationwide and on RFD-TV. Radio greats like Paul Harvey called on them to explain issues and provide a counterpoint when the latest anti-ag book came out. Today, Samuelson and his wife live about 50 miles west of Chicago. I read about this in the encyclopedia, but now Im standing here looking at it. He listened to the veterans around him, picking out the good things they did that people liked. "I dont know how many broadcasters have been around for 60 or more years, so I dont know if its that much of a milestone.". Through the years Samuelson has remained active in organization dear to his heart including 4-H and FFA. Get an exclusive peek behind the scenes of The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination. As for why his listeners love him so, Max has a few ideas: Orion is reliable, credible and accurate. There are tens of thousands of folks who are really going to miss you. (And dont you wonder about the kid who beat him? Luckily, a copycat recipe is easy enough to copy. But even 60 years later, you can hear awe in his familiar baritone. [2] Career[edit] Good health and happiness to you and to Gloria. In 2011, Holly was one of 10 recipients worldwide to receive the IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Ag Journalism award. Orion is now single. And Im looking at that building, this monument that the man built for his wife. In addition to its syndication run, the show is broadcast on RFD-TV. Their operation includes 125 head of commercial cows in a cow/calf operation. One newscaster spent a week fathering Orion through three floors of studios, until he knew where to go and when to be there. He drove home every weekend to be a polka music disc jockey. Samuelson: Well, because we were able to talk more than planting corn or soybeans. She was named an AAEA Master Writer in 2005. Samuelson is a 2003 National Radio Hall of Fame inductee. This would turn out to be his trademark generosity, as he mentored dozens of young broadcasters and interns over the coming decades. His early work was based in Wisconsin, at WKLJ in Sparta, WHBY in Appleton, and WBAY-TV/AM in Green Bay. Then I realize weve got more work to do., The question Samuelson has been asked the most is, What is a frozen pork belly?. Read full biography, Yes, Orion Samuelson is still alive Reverence, always. In 2017, Max Armstrong was elected President of the NAFB. [7] The induction ceremony took place on May 27, 2016, where Armstrong was honored along with 6 others. She spotted early signs of a serious illness one day in 2004, during a television broadcast. Samuelson considered becoming a Lutheran pastor before deciding on six months of radio school. My buddies in the military can never understand why in the world the First Infantry Division He traveled with the Secretary of Agriculture and the Prime Minister of India to see the Taj Mahal. Simple country hospitality has always gone a long way, Max says. After graduation, he moved to Grinnell, Iowa, where he lives with his wife, Heidi. I think I should be able to, he quipped last week. I love being in the countryside and on farms. It wasnt what you would call prime farmland, he says. "We will celebrate his life, but are taking time to figure out the best way. Armstrong also hosts a three-minute feature, "Farming America", on the Tribune Radio Network. The result: casts, wheelchairs and crutches. He was much better than I would have been, Orion reassures. He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2003. From hosting the WGN Radio Barn Dance to breaking the news to Chicagoans of the JFK assassination. Orion 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. Chronology Number 8860726. Three years into his tenure at WGN, Samuelson was the staffer that read the news of the John F. Kennedy assassination. CHICAGO Becoming a successful broadcaster requires the ability to be a good listener. Before the program was over, hed scored a job at WKLJ in Sparta, Wis., less than 20 miles from the home farm. This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Theres a saying that todays news is tomorrows history, said Perdue. 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. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. WGN Radio personality Bob Sirott sat down with Samuelson for a trip down memory lane. But mainly, hes told agricultures story from downtown Chicago, where he became a media icon and a beloved hall of fame broadcaster. Chicago radio legend Orion Samuelson is out of intensive care and recovering from heart-valve replacement surgery, his wife said Wednesday. (10 years younger) if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'howold_co-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',121,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-howold_co-medrectangle-3-0'); Orion Samuelson was born on the 31th of March 1934, which was a Saturday. I think whats worked so well for us is that were different enough to really complement each other, Max says. Indeed, entire generations have grown up on the farm conditioned to shush around the table or in the truck or across the milking parlor when Orions voice came on the radio. I would listen to Maxs ideas and he would listen to mine and that would evolve into stories that made interesting watching and listening on the radio and television stations we were on, he explained. This page was last edited on 20 November 2022, at 09:03. In fact, it might be what they like about him best. Copyright 2022 agrinews-pubs.com. "He loved a wicked joke, a good game & a strong gimlet. The manager at WBAY called me in and said, I got a call from WGN, and they want to talk to you. Heres how the Chicago media icon has told agricultures story. "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 h Garth. From 1975 to 2005, Samuelson also was the host of U.S. Farm Report, a weekly television news magazine dedicated to agriculture. Orion Samuelson is a 89 years old American broadcaster from . All rights reserved. No funeral arrangements have been announced. The Tigers on Sunday held a moment of silence. I think you should do it, Orion recalls. I didnt know what cattle dairy and beef were.. [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. All rights reserved. The scholarship is presented to a college student seeking a career in agricultural communications. Informa Markets, a trading division of Informa PLC. 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. combine platform head from Case IH on display at 2023 Commodity Classic, at the end of this month, recording a landmark 60 years on WGN and creating original television programs such as U.S. 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. announced his diagnosis and that he'd been battling the disease for 19 months, Wojo:Jamie Samuelsen brought out all the goodness, in radio and in life, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. [10][11] In 2014 he was awarded the VERITAS award by American Agri-Women (AAW) Organization. It used to be in a compilation of news bloopers from the 70s and/or 80s, but I can't find it anymore. Samuelson, 81, veteran agriculture-business. Her quick thinking and determination got him into surgery and saved his life and his voice. He gave an emotional update last Monday on the air, saying he wasn't saying his goodbyes, but colleagues feared otherwise. Holly Spangler has covered Illinois agriculture for more than two decades, bringing meaningful production agriculture experience to the magazines coverage. And it, I think, became pretty well known to most people that agriculture was indeed a contributor to the nations income. Farm Report in 1975 andThis Week in AgriBusinessin 2005. Samuelson has spent over 60 years perfecting this talent, first at radio stations in Wisconsin before starting his job at Chicagos WGN Radio in September 1960. It turns out he had a flesh-eating bacteria working on his throat. Orion Samuelson is an American broadcaster most widely known for hosting U. S. Farm Report. First, Orion won the section, and then he went to state, and then he placed second in all of Wisconsin. 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. His voice is synonymous with agriculture news and after January Orion Samuelson will be stepping away from the microphone. Even farmers dont work that long in a lot of cases and here you are still getting up early and doing what youve done for the last well, since 1952. He also made history by being the first agribusiness broadcaster to be inducted into the National Radio Broadcasters Hall of Fame. And thats OK. Orion spent one Sunday at then-Rep. Denny Hasterts house, running through the possibilities. The money-saving move of starting at a community college rarely works as planned. "The Big O," as he's known, will continue to deliver five or six daily business . 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. Feder flashback: So you think you know Chicago television. He served as master of ceremonies for thousands of shows and crowned dozens of queens, using his own plane to travel efficiently. The feeling is mutual. Celebrating 60 Years of Orion SamuelsonAudio|Video|PhotosEmail|Voicemail|Scholarship. He currently co-hosts (with associate Max Armstrong) the Morning Show on Saturdays. Not even Earl Butz had this kind of name recognition. Sid and Mona Samuelson made a good life for Orion and his younger sister, Norma. The warmth, concern and attention to every need is nothing short of outstanding, she wrote. On September 26, 1960, Orion Samuelson joined WGN Radio. Reliable and true., And quotable. 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. Related:Orion Samuelson: Explaining agriculture to ChicagoHow Orion became beloved in agricultureWhat Orion means on the farmMax on Orion: Champion for the American farmer. His surgery went well on Monday, he is out of ICU and looking forward to checking out of this luxury hotel (hospital) as soon as he gets a bit more strength back, Samuelsons wife, Gloria, wrote in an email. But, this is like the time when the conspiracy theory came true. said one researcher. just before graduating from the University of Illinois in agricultural communications. Samuelson held the same position in the broadcasting industry for 60 consecutive years through 2020,[9] second only to Los Angeles Dodgers Radio Network announcer Vin Scully. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. I think that a lot of people recognize that without agricultural trade, we would be in far worse condition because our farmers produce so much more than we can consume. In 2001, Samuelson was named a Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois and received the Lincoln Medal the highest award bestowed by the State of Illinois. Orion Samuelson and his wife, Gloria, rode in the local parade as Grand Marshal on the final day of the festival. It is the dying refrain of a completed song, the final verse of a finished poem.Andr Maurois (18851967). Orion Samuelson was just 27 years old when he made his way up North Michigan Avenue, striding toward the Tribune Tower. These days, Orion is dialing back obligations and busy recovering from back surgery. Published in La Salle, Illinois, USA, by Shaw Media. Last . 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. Orion Samuelson is a 89 years old American broadcaster from . 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. Having trouble filling a prescription? Sirott: You had to be pinching yourself at times along the way? At age 26, Samuelson got the call to join 50,000-watt powerhouse WGN, where he began as farm director on September 26, 1960. We operate in different ways. 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. [1] He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2003. 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. Samuelson was heard on WGN radio in Chicago for sixty years as the station's head agriculture broadcaster from 1960 through 2020. Truman. "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?. updated October 9, 2020 (Her name, can also be written Sun-kil Choi, Sun Kil Choi or Choi Sun-kil but that is not so accurate.) The new routes will shave off 40,000 miles and 6,000 minutes of travel time annually, according to the FAA. And I cant write. "They werent teaching me to be a broadcaster, they were teaching me to be a writer. In May 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.
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