Many Sun City residents have been remembering one of their most famous neighbor, as legendary agriculture broadcaster Orion Samuelson died on March 16 at age 91.
Samuelson is well-known for his generations long career spanning six decades on farm reports on WGN-AM Radio 720 and WGN-TV. The Ontario, WI native, who was born March 31,1934, came to Chicago in 1960 after working in Green Bay radio and TV, as WGN Radio and TV’s Farm Director.
Sun City Community Association of Huntley Board of Directors President Bill Niemasz summed up how many admired Samuelson.
“The Sun City Huntley community has been home to many residents with distinguished careers in a vast variety of disciplines, including renown agriculture broadcaster Samuelson,” Niemasz said.
“While I never had the opportunity to personally meet Samuelson, I felt like I knew him, as I remember my mother and I tuned in every morning as we listened to the crop report even though the crop report had no bearing on our immediate lives. He truly made an impact in the agricultural industry with a sixty-year run on WGN Radio before retiring in 2020. We are glad that he chose to live in Sun City Huntley and extend our condolences to his friends, family, and listeners.”
According to the National Radio Hall of Fame web site, Samuelson worked at WBAY TV and radio in Green Bay prior to being named Farm Director at WGN. His National Farm Report was aired daily on 250 stations and US Farm Report and a weekly television program, was seen on 190 midwest stations. He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2003, among many professional honors.
Service Info
Arrangements have been announced by DiFiore Funeral & Cremation Services of Huntley.
Visitation for Mr. Samuelson will be from 4 to 8 p.m. April 9 at DeFiore Funeral & Cremation Service, 10763 Dundee Road, Huntley. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. April 10 at Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church, 10805 Main Street, Huntley.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the following:
• Orion and Gloria Sameulson Scholarship in Agriculture Fund 771954- University of Illinois Foundation PO Box 734500, Chicago, Illinois 60673-4500
• Illinois Ag Leadership Foundation, www.agleadsership.org/support
• NAFB Foundation, 1100 Platte Falls Road, Platte City, MO 64079. Or call the NAFB office at 816-431-4032.
