Samuelson, WGN ag industry reporter for 60 years, dies at 91

Orion Samuelson, who covered the agriculture business for 60 years, primarily for Chicago’s WGN, died March 16 at the age of 91.

Michael S. Rosenweld of The New York Times reports, “In a deep, baritone voice, Mr. Samuelson relayed news about the price of soybeans, grains and other commodities; quoted livestock prices; and read the weather forecast with prophetic certainty.

“Because WGN was a leading source of news in Chicago, the city’s suburbs and throughout the heartland, Mr. Samuelson essentially had two audiences: farmers who needed data to help them make strategic decisions about their livelihoods and city folk who were more or less clueless about food production.

“Mr. Samuelson viewed himself as an educational bridge.

“‘Those of us with agriculture backgrounds have a responsibility to communicate to non-farmers about our profession and to get more involved in breaking down the barriers between the rural and urban communities,’ he said in a 1984 speech at University of Wisconsin-River Falls. ‘We have to get our farm message across to city people in the language they can understand.'”

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