Thousands of children made cards for Jimmy Carter's 100th birthday. Check out some of the best

Jimmy Carter, the 39th president and proud peanut farmer from Plains, Georgia, just turned 100, making him the first president to do so.

In honor of his birthday, more than 4,000 students from coast to coast got creative and sent hand-drawn birthday cards to celebrate the former president.

The promotion is part of the annual Peanut Festival Postcard Contest, a competition started nearly 15 years ago by the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park in Plains. The competition not only pays homage to Carter's political legacy and humanitarian work, but also shines a spotlight on the role of peanuts in Georgia's economy and history through art.

The competition centers on Courtney Stoops, the education specialist for Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, a role created at Carter's request to support students and teachers across the state.

With Stoops' help, CNN reached out to this year's Peanut Masterpiece winners and asked how Carter's legacy inspired their postcards and shaped their world.

Editor's note — Winners' answers have been edited for clarity.