DANVERS — Jamie O’Brien works behind the scenes to make the Topsfield Fair an annual success but praise for his leadership was on display at the North Shore Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner.
A Peabody native, O’Brien was one of five local recipients of the North Shore Distinguished Leadership Award at the Danversport Yacht Club.
O’Brien, in receiving the honor, quickly noted that the award is a group accomplishment among his staff and volunteers that make it possible to run the country’s longest continuously operating fair.
“I’m really flattered just to be thought of tonight,” O’Brien said. “At the Topsfield Fair we have 700 volunteers (and) 300 employees. It just doesn’t end.
“We have one group of people who are just amazing. (They) put on our fair every year. We had 412,000 people that came through in 10 days. It’s quite an accomplishment but it’s not my accomplishment, it’s their accomplishment.”
O’Brien has served as the fair’s general manager for the past 14 years. Before that O’Brien, who has a degree in Forestry and Business Management from the University of Maine, was general manager at the 275-acre Brooksby Farm in Peabody.
O’Brien describes his love of agriculture as, “a lifestyle more than a career.”
As general manager, O’Brien has introduced several successful and groundbreaking initiatives at the Topsfield Fair, with the fair’s education department being one of the most notable.
This year more than 1,500 students from Massachusetts and New Hampshire visited the fair. Those students participated in 16 agricultural programs that are developed by the fair.
Last year, the Topsfield Fair became the first agricultural fair in the country to offer a manageable fair experience to those living with dementia and to support their caregivers.
“I do want to thank my family,” O’Brien said. “I want to thank my board for being here tonight, they surprised me. I do appreciate that and I thank everyone.”
Other recipients of the Distinguished Leaders Award included Andrew DeFranza, executive director of Harborlight Community Partners, Annie Harris CEO of the Essex National Heritage Commision, Dr. Mahesh and Mrs. Smita Patel of Kaya Kalp Aesthetics at Beverly Hospital and Mayor Daniel Rivera of the City of Lawrence.
Congressman Seth Moulton gave opening remarks at the dinner, addressing the importance of improving the state’s transportation system.
