Not many people can lay claim that they shook hands with a former President of the United States, who also happens to be a Nobel Laureate, marched as an honored guest in a longstanding central Georgia parade and had their artwork displayed in a museum for all to see.

Five Fayette students can say they did just that as the 2007 winners of the 11th annual “Plains, Peanuts and a President” postcard contest cosponsored by the National Peanut Board and the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site Education program. The following students earned placements in their grade levels: second graders Tynan Fortune and Caroline Cameron of Kedron Elementary won first and second place, respectively; Leigh O’Farrell, an eighth grader at Rising Starr Middle, took first place; Mamie Smith, a sixth grader at Bennett’s Mill Middle, placed third and Andrew Parsons, an eighth grader at Whitewater Middle, placed third.

The students traveled to Plains, GA on September 22, along with their families and sponsoring teachers, to take part in the annual Peanut Festival Parade and to meet with Jimmy Carter to receive their awards. Their artwork was enlarged and placed on display in the Plains High School Museum.  

The annual contest is open to students in grades K-12. Postcard designs and messages must include peanuts and either Plains, GA or former President Carter. Grade level winners receive an autographed book by Carter, an invitation to march in the parade and a certificate presented by the former president.