Orion Samuelson

The #1 Agricultural Broadcaster in the country.

Orion Samuelson has served as Agricultural Services Director of WGN Radio since 1960. Orion is also heard daily on about 240 radio stations with his syndicated National Farm Report and weekly on about 160 stations with his syndicated Samuelson Sez.

His life-long commitment to agriculture has been recognized by organizations in all segments of agri-business. In May of 2001, Orion was named a Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois and received the Lincoln Medal … the highest award bestowed by the state of Illinois. A week later the University of Illinois presented Orion with the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters. In January of 1998, the American Farm Bureau Federation honored Orion and Bob Dole with the AFBF Distinguished Service Award. At the 1997 Illinois State Fair, Governor Jim Edgar changed the name of the Junior Livestock Building to the Orion Samuelson Junior Livestock Building as a tribute to Orion’s nearly 4 decades of service to the agricultural youth of Illinois. In October of 1994, Orion was honored as “Man of the Year” by Heifer Project International on its 50th anniversary. He has received the National 4-H Alumni Award and the Honorary FFA American Farmer Degree, is an honorary member of Alpha Gamma Rho, the agriculture fraternity.

In 1985, Orion was inducted into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame. He has also been inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame, the NAFB Hall of Fame and in November 2003, Orion received the highest award in the radio broadcasting industry when he was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago. Hall of Famer Paul Harvey presented Orion the award on the national broadcast hosted by Larry King.

Orion has traveled internationally to 43 countries to cover agricultural production and trade for his radio and television shows ... countries include Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Scotland, England, Hungary, France, Denmark, India, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Thailand, Peoples Republic of China, Brazil, the former USSR, Vietnam and Indonesia. He has also been involved in four official government trips. In October 1989, Orion traveled to Taipei to receive the International Communicator of the Year Award from the President of the Republic of China.

Samuelson is also active in areas outside broadcasting. He is Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation, a former Trustee of the Farm Foundation and a Trustee of the Cornerstone Foundation of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI). He currently serves as Honorary Chairman of Illinois Citizens for Extension, seeking to increase financial support for the Cooperative Extension Service.