The Chatham-Kent community has lost a long-time member of the local media who dedicated his life's work to uncovering the truth and spreading awareness of agricultural affairs.
Simon Crouch, who spent almost 40 years working in a variety of local media as a radio producer, a newswriter, a talk show host, and a television reporter, passed away on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at the age of 67.
With a self-declared interest in financial and agricultural issues, Crouch spent many years seeking out and sharing local stories in Chatham-Kent, with farm-related content especially close to his heart.
That passion for farm-related affairs is something that caused Crouch to cross paths often with Kim Cooper, a long-time active member of the agricultural community in Chatham-Kent.
Cooper told CK News Today that Crouch will be remembered as someone who carried the torch from local farm broadcasting pioneer Harold Smith.
"Simon was kind of the second voice of agriculture in Chatham-Kent," said Cooper. "He was a proponent of helping any way he could... I always could count on Simon if there was something I needed to get into the press about different agriculture matters or issues. Simon was always there."
Crouch's commitment to local farm-related issues was also recognized publicly when he received the Friend of Agriculture Award from the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce in 2015.
"Simon was the first person who anybody thought about in terms of someone who helped agriculture, but didn't really say, 'Look at me, look what I've done,'" said Cooper. "He was very, very humbled to get that award and he didn't think he deserved it, but he really did."
Above and beyond his commitment to agriculture, one of the things Cooper will remember about Crouch is his commitment to integrity and fair reporting.
"I consider him one of the good guys... there are a lot of great guys out there and Simon was one of those guys you could count on," said Cooper. "He was very reliable, very truthful and I really respected him for that."
LISTEN: You can hear the full interview with Kim Cooper by clicking here.
Crouch's commitment to covering local agricultural issues, at times, even reached Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
Dresden-area farmer and agricultural economist Philip Shaw told CK News Today he distinctly remembers Crouch interviewing him during a large agriculture protest on April 6, 2006.
At that time, thousands of farmers from across Canada made their way to the nation's capital to pressure the government to support agriculture amid a crisis over commodity prices.
"I led [the protest] that day and I just happened to be local," said Shaw. "I had a regular commentary on the Farm Show at that time and so that day, we did a live take on the experience of farmers that day in Ottawa."
Shaw said he, like Cooper, will remember Crouch for his commitment to fair and balanced news coverage.
"He was diligent and he was genuine and he had a real keen interest in good editorial," said Shaw. "His whole life was about getting the facts straight and being a good steward with the resources he had to get the story right."
Along his journalism career, Crouch worked as a part-time reporter and the Bureau Chief at CKCO. He also did some freelance work and produced stories for various news outlets including the CBC.
Crouch served as the News Director and then the Farm News Director at Bea-Ver Communications Inc. and Blackburn Radio Inc. in Chatham for several years before moving back to the general newsroom where he worked as a reporter and news anchor until his retirement in 2016.
He also spent many hours volunteering in the community through several projects including community gardens and as a key member of the team that organized the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo in Chatham-Kent in 2018.
Crouch's obituary, which you can find by clicking here, notes that a celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Condolences can be shared on an online tribute wall from McKinlay Funeral Home.
