So Id get up in the morning and Id help dad milk cows. 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. Samuelsen died Saturday night at the age of 48, surroundedby McDonald and their three children. [7] The induction ceremony took place on May 27, 2016, where Armstrong was honored along with 6 others. We collect into a small bunch the flowers, the few flowers, which brought sweetness into a life, and present it as an offering to an accomplished destiny. Reverence, always. The hall of fame broadcaster and Chicago media icon says he'll end his run at the end of the year. The University of Illinois also presented Samuelson with the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters. An award-winning writer and photographer, Holly is past president of the American Agricultural Editors Association. Please help me find a news bloopers with Orion Samuelson. On the eve of his 60th anniversary as the booming voice of agriculture and business at WGN 720-AM, Orion Samuelson . I dont like conspiracy theories. Samuelsen worked in the Detroit sports-media landscape since 1994, at a variety of radio stations, but most notable WDFN 1130The Fan and WXYT 97.1 The Ticket. Serving on a three-member board, he hires and promotes full-time firefighters and paramedics for one of the highest-rated (ISO 1) fire service organizations in the United States, the Lisle-Woodridge Fire Protection District.[11]. His voice is synonymous with agriculture news and after January Orion Samuelson will be stepping away from the microphone. Armstrong also was awarded an Alum Certificate of Distinction from the College of Agriculture and a Sagamore of the Wabash, given by the Governor of Indiana. The voice of farm radio | Business | lacrossetribune.com [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. Dairy industry works to build trust with Gen Z, 13 ways to have better conversations about ag, A bill that would kill large-scale livestock farms, Weekly grain movement: Corn exceeds expectations. 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. 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. Like regular Orion, Air Orion will retire soon, too. The surgeon commented that Orion is further along than patients half his age. Everyone loved him the engineers and everyone behind the scenes, he describes. 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. This would turn out to be his trademark generosity, as he mentored dozens of young broadcasters and interns over the coming decades. But he remembers the first time he spoke competitively: My knees never stopped shaking!. WGN Radios Orion Samuelson has graced airwaves throughout the heartland in places across the Midwest and beyond. That mildly understated assessment launched the phenomenally successful WGN career that Orion is now retiring from, 60 years later. He is a part-time farmer and has experience as a banker with an emphasis on agriculture and residential lending.. He will retire from WGNs airwaves on Dec. 31. In 2011, Holly was one of 10 recipients worldwide to receive the IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Ag Journalism award. Thats why I titled my book, You Cant Dream Big Enough, Samuelson said about his book published in 2012. During his over 60 years as a farm broadcaster,. 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. Orion got plenty of practice thinking on his feet, as WGN took the show on the road for 40 to 50 remote broadcasts a year to county fairs, the Illinois State Fair, the Farm Progress Show and more. 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. When Armstrong started at WGN, he was surrounded by announcers and personalities who were significantly older. Once Samuelson started his job at WGN, it didnt take him long to realize that urban people didnt understand farmers or ranchers. You cant respond to someone until you listen to them, and you cant ask the right questions until you learn where theyre coming from. These stories were also translated into Max Armstrong's Tractor App, launched in 2013. Samuelson Named Grand Marshal of 2016 Pumpkin Festival The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The farm broadcaster duo also assisted with Farm Visit Sundays which was organized by the University of Illinois Extension. It feels like a fairy tale! Check Background Get Contact Info This Is Me - Edit Reputation & Background View All She replied that she read them occasionally, and that was enough. That was the ticket. His early work was based in Wisconsin and he was working in Green Bay when his big break came and he headed south to Chicago in 1960 to work at WGN Radio where he served as head agriculture broadcaster, presenting16 agricultural reports daily. 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. CHICAGO ( NewsNation Now) One of the most famous voices in radio will end a remarkable 60-year career later this month. An award-winning writer and photographer, Holly is past president of the American Agricultural Editors Association. Orion Samuelson was just 27 years old when he made his way up North Michigan Avenue, striding toward the Tribune Tower. Orion Samuelson and his wife, Gloria, rode in the local parade as Grand Marshal on the final day of the festival. Sirott: Well, Orion congratulations. As a kid, Orion served as "that voice on the radio" that I became . "He loved a wicked joke, a good game & a strong gimlet. 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. The engineers, stage hands and people on the air liked Orion, so it was much easier for me being the kid coming on board to slide right in because I was welcomed just by working with Orion.. If you eat, youre involved in agriculture is the line hes used thousands of times at such events. Not even Earl Butz had this kind of name recognition. Perfect for elementary students, homeschoolers, and libraries! 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. Its not for nothing that Orion is known as The Voice of Agriculture. Together, these two farm boys sat down every day in a studio in Chicago and talked about agriculture with a 50,000-watt transmitter and hundreds of networked stations, explaining pork bellies and beef demand to suburban housewives. You can find a comprehensive archive of his material here. 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. At age 26, Samuelson got the call to join 50,000-watt powerhouse WGN, where he began as farm director on September 26, 1960. December 31st will be my last time on the air at WGN, Samuelson told me Tuesday. Samuelson was inducted into the Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame in 2017. Hes originated broadcasts from all 50 states and 44 countries. McDonalds is now offering its Big Mac sauce in prepackaged dipping cups but it aint free. The first was the cancellation of the network broadcast in 1952. More: Wojo:Jamie Samuelsen brought out all the goodness, in radio and in life. Orion Samuelson - A life in photos - YouTube Over the years, Orion originated broadcasts all over the world, including 10 times in China and four in Russia. Today, Samuelson and his wife live about 50 miles west of Chicago. He also serves on the Farm Foundation Bennett Round Table, and is a former member of the board of the Agriculture Future of America, the Board of Farm Safety 4 Just Kids, the board of directors of the Foods Resource Bank, a former trustee of the Cornerstone Foundation of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois and a former member of the board of trustees of the National 4-H Council. "The Big O," as he's known around the station, will continue to deliver five or six daily business reports for WGN until he hangs up the mic and rides off into the sunset with his wife Gloria. 'It's been quite a career': Samuelson retires after 60 - AgriNews 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 through Tribune Broadcasting's Tribune Radio Network. [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 as editor of Prairie Farmer magazine and Executive Editor for Farm Progress, managing editorial staff at six magazines throughout the eastern Corn Belt. Farm Report in 1975 andThis Week in AgriBusinessin 2005. Families from the city would spend the weekend on a farm and then the farmers would go into the city for a weekend.. 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 served as master of ceremonies for thousands of shows and crowned dozens of queens, using his own plane to travel efficiently. canceling National Barn Dance outright. He has two children. 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.' Samuelson: And I did! U.S. Farm Report continued without Samuelson after his departure. But mainly, hes told agricultures story from downtown Chicago, where he became a media icon and a beloved hall of fame broadcaster. 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. Samuelson: No, I didnt, but, circumstances, leg disease that made it impossible to do heavy work. Having trouble filling a prescription? A montage of photos of the life and career of WGN Radio legend Orion Samuelson.For more, visit wgnradio.com/orion. He was born on March 31, 1934 in . That teacher, Robert Gehring, went far out of his way to help a kid who really needed to catch a break. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Group Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. That, I thought, explained a lot. That was the latest tribute to Samuelsen, whose death made news outlets across the country, and drew sympathies from many dignitaries in the sports community, including all four Detroit major sports teams. 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 addition to that, Ive interviewed nine presidents, including George H.W. "We will celebrate his life, but are taking time to figure out the best way. 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. Around the same time, the vocational-agriculture teacher from school showed up on the Samuelsons doorstep, offering to bring Orions schoolwork out a couple of times a week and help him stay on pace with classmates. COVID-19 has complicated traditional funerals. "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 I sat at a table with Glen Campbell and Bob Dole and we became good friends., Subscribe to receive top agriculture news, Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters. Three years into his tenure at WGN, he was the staffer that read the news of the John F. Kennedy assassination. Radio greats like Paul Harvey called on them to explain issues and provide a counterpoint when the latest anti-ag book came out. Orion immediately set to work shaping WGNs farm programming after he aired up his tires and mastered the elevators, of course. National Barn Dance - Wikipedia First, Orion won the section, and then he went to state, and then he placed second in all of Wisconsin. Sun-Times editor Chris Fusco leaving for California news startup, 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. 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. Max Armstrong was named an Honorary Master Farmer in 2018 by Prairie Farmer Magazine. 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. Later, Orion would earn an honorary doctor of letters from the U of I. All rights reserved. McDonald posted to Twitter on Monday afternoon, her first post since Samuelsen went on the air a week ago and announced his diagnosis and that he'd been battling the disease for 19 months. Memorials may be made to Heartland. [1] He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Famein 2003. Manage Settings (And dont you wonder about the kid who beat him? It was a good first day on the job. Orion Samuelson | WGN Radio 720 - Chicago's Very Own The feeling is mutual. Samuelson: Yeah, without a doubt. Orion Samuelson started his career at WGN Radio in September 1960, when the presidential election involved Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. I dont ever remember working on a style, he says, but I never took my voice for granted. Like the farmers hes served all these years, Orion celebrated that last first day on the job long ago. It used to be in a compilation of news bloopers from the 70s and/or 80s, but I can't find it anymore. I think whats worked so well for us is that were different enough to really complement each other, Max says. The second is a parody of the poem " A Visit from Saint Nicholas ." 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. [6], In 2016, Armstrong earned a plaque on the WGN Radio Walk of Fame in Chicago. Orion Samuelson started his career at WGN Radio in September 1960, when the presidential election involved Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. When I started, Orion was so highly regarded by everyone at WGN. Celebrating 60 Years of Orion SamuelsonAudio|Video|PhotosEmail|Voicemail|Scholarship. 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. And trust. The new routes will shave off 40,000 miles and 6,000 minutes of travel time annually, according to the FAA. And I think, what am I doing standing here? One time I was at a White House dinner to honor Norman Borlaug. Legendary agribusiness broadcaster Orion Samuelson on 60 years Read full biography, Yes, Orion Samuelson is still alive 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. Holly Spangler has covered Illinois agriculture for more than two decades, bringing meaningful production agriculture experience to the magazines coverage. 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. Orion Samuelson Day is March 31st - LinkedIn We operate in different ways. Samuelson has held the same job in the broadcasting industry for 50 consecutive years, second only to Los Angeles Dodgers Radio Network announcer Vin Scully. Samuelson was working at WBAY in Green Bay, Wisconsin, when Norm Kraft, WGN farm director resigned on the air. The Tigers on Sunday held a moment of silence. [2], Politically, Samuelson supported the production of ethanol fuel from corn, to help American farmers.[8]. The result: casts, wheelchairs and crutches. I saw agriculture through the eyes of my TV cameraman and I had the opportunity to shake hands with people like Fidel Castro and Mikhail Gorbachev, Samuelson said. Well known ag broadcaster Orion Samuelson will retire this month after 60 years in the field. Before the program was over, hed scored a job at WKLJ in Sparta, Wis., less than 20 miles from the home farm. Televised "Hometown Heroes" featuring Orion Samuelson to air on NewsNation on Dec. 18. Particularly when I, on a Sunday, went with the Secretary of Agriculture and the Prime Minister of India to see the Taj Mahal. Samuelson retires on December 31 after marking more than 60 years with the . 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. Armstrong was a member of NAFB for 40 years before being elected president. Simple country hospitality has always gone a long way, Max says. Feder: Orion Samuelson to retire after 60 years at WGN Radio - Daily Herald Orion's net worth hovers over $250,000 - $499,999 with a yearly income that's about $175 - 199,999. Other people hear it differently than I do, thank God! 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. He drove home every weekend to be a polka music disc jockey. Ag broadcaster Orion Samuelson will sign off after 60-year career He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2003. 2023 www.detroitnews.com. Read more:Orion Samuelson: Explaining agriculture to ChicagoHow Orion became beloved in agricultureWhat Orion means on the farmMax on Orion: Champion for the American farmer, Senior Editor, Prairie Farmer, Farm Progress. Richard Samuelson Obituary (1927 - 2021) - Moline, IA - The Rock Island 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. Registered in England and Wales. Through the years Samuelson has remained active in organization dear to his heart including 4-H and FFA. Last check: 1 year ago. Samuelson's first day on the air at WGN was on September 26, 1960 at "milking time", 5 a.m., at age 26. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Samuelson was heard on WGN radio in Chicago for sixty years as the station's head agriculture broadcaster from 1960 through 2020. 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.. [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. The testimonies of Moon's first wife, Mrs. Seon-gil Choi, and Pastor Deok-jin Kim [who wrote 19 of the church 'Holy Songs'].

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