From hosting the WGN Radio Barn Dance to breaking the news to Chicagoans of the JFK assassination. In addition to its syndication run, the show is broadcast on RFD-TV. In 2011, Holly was one of 10 recipients worldwide to receive the IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Ag Journalism award. I love being in the countryside and on farms. Sirott: When you were growing up in Wisconsin, did you have ambitions to be a broadcaster? Orion Samuelson was just 27 years old when he made his way up North Michigan Avenue, striding toward the Tribune Tower. It turns out he had a flesh-eating bacteria working on his throat. Thats what I did and it took me a couple of weeks to convince Max to make the move from Bloomington to Chicago. Good health and happiness to you and to Gloria. in 2005. 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. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Group Inc. | All Rights Reserved. (And dont you wonder about the kid who beat him? Samuelson: Thats probably one of the biggest compliments I get from city listeners in Chicago or suburbs or other cities who say, I didnt know what soybeans were. Sirott: Orion, judging by all the listeners whove been calling us in the morning, people dont care how old you are. And then you start dreaming. [1] He produces and hosts the Farm Progress America and Max Armstrongs Midwest Digest daily radio programs. I can recall the volume going up and our little voices being muted in my grandpas truck when Orion came on. Robert Feder, a lifelong Chicagoan, covered the media beat in his hometown from 1980 until his retirement in 2022. It makes sense, he says. Orion says he tried to pass along two pieces of advice to his children: Always be honest in what you do, and speak your thoughts, but dont let politics or religion destroy relationships. Hes originated broadcasts from all 50 states and 44 countries. [12], Samuelson serves as a Board Member Emeritus for the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation (IALF) having previously served as chairman of the board. ), I dont know what happened to the guy who came in first, Orion says, laughing. Max Armstrong - Wikipedia He was cut from the same cloth as Paul Harvey. CHICAGO ( NewsNation Now) One of the most famous voices in radio will end a remarkable 60-year career later this month. He was a good guy and a good listener.[3]. Orion Samuelson - A life in photos - YouTube WGN Radio's Orion Samuelson has graced airwaves throughout the heartland in places across the Midwest and beyond. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 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. 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. Check Background Get Contact Info This Is Me - Edit Reputation & Background View All He went one further when he got Orion into public speaking contests. (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. Legendary agribusiness broadcaster Orion Samuelson on 60 years Why? Everyone loved him the engineers and everyone behind the scenes, he describes. Orion Samuelson and his wife, Gloria, were kind enough to allow me to introduce myself and even pose for a quick picture. Three years into his tenure at WGN, he was the staffer that read the news of the John F. Kennedy assassination. Wind noise is frequently loud on the tape. Orions realm is in the city with the movers and shakers.. There was a time we were doing 190 broadcasts per week on WGN Radio and the television show, This Week in AgriBusiness, so we were busy boys.. She was named an AAEA Master Writer in 2005. That teacher, Robert Gehring, went far out of his way to help a kid who really needed to catch a break. 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. Few partnerships in agriculture are as easily recognized as that of Max and Orion again, by first names only. But even 60 years later, you can hear awe in his familiar baritone. [3] He interviewed and or met every US president from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Donald Trump,[5] including John F. Kennedy (when he was still a Senator), Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton,[6][5] and finally, after he was 20 years out of the Oval Office, Harry S. And thats OK. I think whats worked so well for us is that were different enough to really complement each other, Max says. Plant-based product fixes nitrogen for corn, Report provides rangeland carbon market insight, Kansas State University veterinarian shares tips to prepare cattle for summer, Commodity Classic offers look at latest in ag equipment, tech, Orion Samuelson: Explaining agriculture to Chicago, Max on Orion: Champion for the American farmer. [2] Career[edit] Chicago radio legend Orion Samuelson is out of intensive care and recovering from heart-valve replacement surgery, his wife said Wednesday. Registered in England and Wales. The farm broadcaster duo also assisted with Farm Visit Sundays which was organized by the University of Illinois Extension. Samuelson is a 2003 National Radio Hall of Fame inductee. But mainly, hes told agricultures story from downtown Chicago, where he became a media icon and a beloved hall of fame broadcaster. I told him Ive done it and you can do it, too., Orion is one of the hardest working people youll every run into he has a tremendous work ethic, Armstrong said. 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.
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