Orion Samuelson, farm broadcaster, dead at 91

One of America’s favorite farm broadcasters, Orion Samuelson, has died after a brief illness at his Huntley, IL home with his wife Gloria at his side. He was 91. 

He was heard and seen on many TV and radio stations across the country, including WRCO which carried his syndicated agriculture features courtesy of the tribune radio network. He was born on a small farm in Ontario, Wisconsin, in the Brookwood School District, and would often mention his school days and growing up in the Badger State. 

Samuelson was born on a dairy farm in Ontario, Wisconsin, near Lacrosse. Growing up on the farm Samuelson was expected to take over the family business, but a leg disease made it impossible to do heavy work. 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.

Samuelson was heard on WGN radio in Chicago for sixty years as the station’s head agriculture broadcaster from 1960 through 2020, getting the job after his predecessor Norm Kraft abruptly resigned from his position on-air.

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.

Samuelson retired from broadcasting in 2020 after a remarkable 60-year career advocating agriculture on the radio, television, and before countless rural and urban audiences.

“All along the way, he became a champion for the American farmer,” said Max Armstrong, who worked for decades full time with Samuelson. “He was an advocate before it became fashionable.”

When Samuelson retired from WGN Radio at the end of 2020, it marked 60 years on WGN. Samuelson also launched the nationally syndicated television programs, “U.S. Farm Report” in 1975, and “This Week in AgriBusiness” in 2005.

His love of the farming beat took him to 44 countries over the years. He was known as “the American farmer’s best friend” and is in the Radio Hall of Fame.

Samuelson would have been 92 on March 31.

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