The former host of CFCO's Farm Show has died.
Harold Smith grew up on a farm in Dover, and eventually hosted the show starting in 1962. His son Bob says Smith was filling a need in the Chatham-Kent agricultural comrmunity.
"He basically came in and pitched them on the idea they needed someone to do farm reporting," says Smith "Especially in a market like that, which is so heavily agricultural, there were no farm reports to speak of."
Smith worked on the farm for nearly his entire life. Bob adds he still feels the impact his father made on Chatham-Kent.
"I can't tell you how many times I've bumped into people over the years who grew up in the area. Whenever he was on it was like 'Shhhh, Harold Smith is on the air.' I think we were the only family who didn't get that, because he was home and already recorded it, so we didn't need to listen to it!"
Smith says a private ceremony will take place and that a memorial service will likely be held in the spring.
Harold Smith is survived by his wife Ruth, his four sons Douglas, James, Bob and David, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was inducted into the Kent Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1993
