By JAYLINN PFEIFER
For Hays Post

ELLIS — On Tuesday, Thad Beach traveled to Ellis to put on his annual Kansas Day activities for both elementary schools. He was at St. Mary’s Catholic School from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., where he sang songs about the state bird, insect, flower and rock. Beach also talked about the history of Kansas and the Kansa tribe.

By all accounts, his interaction with the kids was wonderful and the children really enjoyed him.

“I am so grateful for the relationship with the schools and their willingness to collaborate and work together,” said Brenda Meder, executive director of the Hays Arts Council. Due to the weather, the presentation had to be moved to Tuesday, instead of Wednesday.

Beach sang songs about other topics such as the Santa Fe Trail, Chisholm Trail, Oregon Trail, the Butterfield Overland Dispatch, and famous astronauts and people from Kansas, including Dwight Eisenhower and Amelia Earhart. All of these songs urged the kids to sing and join along, so it made the interaction a blast.

Beach also played various instruments such as the jaw harp, guitar, harmonica, banjo, ukulele, Plains Indian flute, and other homemade percussion instruments.

“I got started performing for children when I worked with the North Carolina Mountain Arts Adventure in 1988,” Beach said.

Beach gets the information he puts into songs through books but also from children interviewing their parents and grandparents.

The Kansas Day activity is the kickoff to the Hays Arts Council’s schedule for the year. Beach will perform in Hays, as well, this week.