Legendary Chicago Broadcaster Orion Samuelson Dies at 91

The longtime WGN Radio agriculture reporter was known as 'the American farmer's best friend'.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 1:26pm

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph in soft, golden tones depicting a farmer's hands tending to crops in a field, with the horizon line blurred in the background, conceptually representing Orion Samuelson's legacy as a beloved agricultural broadcaster.Orion Samuelson's decades-long career as a trusted voice for Midwest farmers is commemorated through an impressionistic portrait of the agricultural work he covered.Green Bay Today

Orion Samuelson, a legendary voice on Chicago radio for over 60 years and one of the most recognizable agriculture broadcasters in the country, has died at the age of 91. Samuelson, who grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, brought his accessible and amiable reporting style to WGN Radio from 1960 until his retirement in 2020, covering the complexities of agribusiness and food production for millions of listeners.

Why it matters

Samuelson was a trusted voice for farmers and rural communities across the Midwest, helping to bridge the gap between urban and rural audiences. His long tenure at WGN and national syndication made him one of the most influential figures in agricultural media over the past half-century.

The details

During his career, Samuelson interviewed every U.S. president from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Donald Trump, traveled to 43 countries including Cuba, and even announced the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on WGN airwaves. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame and was known as 'the American farmer's best friend' for his ability to communicate complex agricultural topics in an accessible way.

  • Orion Samuelson served as WGN Radio's head agriculture broadcaster from 1960 to 2020.
  • Samuelson died on March 16, 2026, just two weeks before his 92nd birthday.

The players

Orion Samuelson

A legendary Chicago broadcaster who spent over 60 years reporting on agriculture and agribusiness for WGN Radio. He grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin and became known as 'the American farmer's best friend' for his accessible reporting style.

WGN Radio

The Chicago radio station where Orion Samuelson worked as the head agriculture broadcaster for six decades, becoming one of the station's longest-standing fixtures.

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The takeaway

Orion Samuelson's long career and trusted voice made him an iconic figure in agricultural media, bridging the gap between urban and rural audiences and ensuring that the complexities of food production remained accessible to millions of listeners across the Midwest.