Longtime broadcaster and friend to RFD-TV, Orion Samuelson, has passed away at the age of 91.
He grew up on his family’s dairy farm in Wisconsin, but his career began somewhat tragically. As a teenager, he was diagnosed with a disease that prevented him from walking for a few short years. He said that while he was bedridden, he would listen to the radio constantly, sparking his interest in his career..
“I spent a lot of time on my back in bed, listening to radio. And, my teacher, Robert Gehring, the FFA Advisor said, “You know, you’ve got a pretty good voice and a pretty good way of expressing yourself. So, why don’t we get you involved in the FFA public speaking contest. So, that took me from milking cows to working in agriculture and thinking about a possible career.
The first time I stood in front of an audience to speak, my knees I don’t think ever did stop shaking because I was nervous. But, the more I did it, the more I enjoyed it…"
Orion eventually found his way at WGN Radio, where he spent 60 years of his life delivering agricultural reports, which led him to amazing opportunities.
“Had the opportunity to travel to 44 countries to cover agriculture. Went to China ten times after President Nixon opened the border for trade. Went to Cuba, so I shook hands with Fidel Castro. Shook hands with Mikhail Gorbachev. Shook hands with Roswell Garst who welcomed the Russian leaders to his Iowa farm several times. I think I’ve interviewed nine Presidents, world leaders that I have mentioned. And, I could never dream sitting in a cold barn on a January day milking cows by hand that I would end up doing the many things I’ve had the opportunity to do.”
During his retirement address, Orion said his career was unimaginable, but had fun along the way.
“I’ve had 60 years of nothing but fun and, that’s why when I entitled my book – about five or six years ago – I titled it, “You Can’t Dream Big Enough,” because as a dairy farm boy milking cows in Wisconsin, I could never have dreamed where I would end up and, it’s been fun.”
Known as “The Big O,” in farm broadcasting circles, he is in the National Broadcaster’s Hall of Fame and Radio Hall of Fame.
