Heddal Stave Church is the largest stave church in Norway, built in the 1200's, and the church is still in use. Most tour groups regard a visit to Heddal Stave church as a must when they come to Eastern Norway.

In Sauherad Orion Samuelson and the farmers visited the beautiful Lindheim farm, and they were welcomed by Torstein and Berit Lindheim in their lovely Telemark bunads. Lindheim farm is a farm where apples are the main products, and Torstein and Berit Lindheim told the American farmers what farming in Norway is all about. Much smaller farms than in the U.S., and rather hilly. The beautiful Lindheim farm gives the impression that farming is rather romantic, but Torstein and Berit told their American colleagues that farming means a lot of hard work in Norway, like in the U.S. Stine Solbakken, a well known farm reporter from Telemarksavisa was there, and she interviewed Orion Samuelson and Carrol T. Juven from Juven Tours. Orion himself also made videos from the farm.

The farmers had their luncheon on Norsjø Hotell. They loved the food and the place, and Orion Samuelson and Carrol T. Juven are already planning a new visit to Telemark next year. And then they want to stay for at least two nights at Norsjø Hotel.

In Skien Orion Samuelson and the farmers visited three different farms in Gjerpen. The first farm was Hoppestad farm, a farm that Orion Samuelson also visited in 2007. Orion was pleased to meet the young farmer Per Arne Hoppestad again, and he made new interviews with him like he did in 2007. We think that Orion and Per Arne have many concurrent views on foodproduction and farming. A reporter from NRK Østafjells made interviews with Orion Samuelson and Per Arne Hoppestad.

To get from the Hoppestad farm to the next farm to visit, the Kise farm, is normally a short ride. But on June 24, 2009 it turned to be a real challenge, the reason being that the gravel road was being tarred. The work had started early in the morning and was going to continue until late in the evening. No traffic was allowed on the road while the tarring was going on. However, a friend of Carrol T. Juven in Juven Tours, Ivar Stulen in Skien, who had assisted Carrol arranging visits at the Gjerpen farms, negotiated with the road workers. They understood the importance of the visit, and they made it possible to get to the Kise farm on a rather narrow gravel road from the north. Thanks to the roadworkers and the clever bus-driver, the challenge got a happy ending.

At the Kise farm Arne and Hans Kise had lined up a lot of their old tractors and motorbikes from WWII. The American farmers were so interested, and they had many questions to ask. Orion Samuelson made videos from the events, and so did a reporter from NRK Østafjells, a Norwegian Broadcasting company.

Dinner was served in the evening in the court yard at Århus farm, a farm that dates back several hundred years. The courses were local dishes from Telemark, some of them not even known by us from Skien who were invited. Very special. Tone Hoppestad was the one who arranged it all.

The American farmers also got a guided visit in the building from the Iron Age at Århus farm.

The next day, June 25, the farmers went to see Ulefos Mansion and Porsgrund Porcelain. The beautifulUlefos mansion was built in 1807 by Cabinet Minister Niels Aall. It was his summer home until 1830 when he sold his other house in Skien, and the mansion at Ulefoss became his home all year around. Ulefos Mansion is the architectural masterpiece of the Napoleonic times in Norway. This stately home can brag about royal overnight stops by Haakon the 7th, Olav the 5th and the Prince Imperial, Napoleon, in 1878.

One of the Orion Samuelson delegates, Kendall County Sheriff Richard A. Randall, who also is a Fire Brigade Captain and farmer, went to see the Skien Fire Brigade premises, and he got a thorough guideance by the Deputy Head of the Fire Brigade, Ove Stokkeland. We later heard that Orion Samuelson made an interview with Richard from his visit at Skien Fire Brigade.

We very much appreciate to have Orion Samuelson visiting Telemark, and we very much appreciate that he plans to visit Telemark again in 2010. Orion Samuelson is heard on WGN Radio, where he has served as Agribusiness Director since 1960. Orion presents daily agricultural and business reports on WGN, in addition to co-hosting The Morning Show, WGN Radio's agriculture program,

Orion is also heard daily on more than 260 radio stations over there, with his syndicated National Farm Report and on 110 stations with his syndicated Samuelson Sez.

On Sept 14 Orion Samuelson sent us greetings from Chicago saying that they have finally completed the DVD of the 2009 Trip to Norway and will be sending copies to Carrol Juven who will forward them to us who, he says played an important role in the successful trip. The reports from the 38 guests have been unanimous...the best trip they have ever taken.