Trace Whitfield Bates (born February 1, 1997) is the eighth child and fourth son of Gil Bates and Kelly Bates.
He is the brother of Zachary Bates, Michaela Keilen, Erin Paine, Lawson Bates, Nathan Bates, Alyssa Webster, Tori Smith, Carlin Stewart, Josie Balka, Katie Clark, Jackson Bates, Warden Bates, Isaiah Bates, Addallee Bates, Ellie Bates, Callie-Anna Bates, Judson Bates, and Jeb Bates.
He is the husband of Lydia Bates and the father of their two children, Ryker and Kaia.
Early life[]
Trace as a toddler
Trace Whitfield Bates was born on February 1, 1997, in Lake City, Tennessee, to Gil Bates and Kelly Bates. He was the couple's eighth child, and they went on to have eleven more children after him.
His name means "harvester of the white fields".
Along with his siblings, Trace was homeschooled growing up. He and his siblings were raised as active participants of Bill Gothard's Institute in Basic Life Principles, and regularly attended the yearly Advanced Training Institute conferences in Big Sandy, Texas.
Trace and his sister Carlin graduated from high school together in 2016. They held a graduation party at Mount Moriah Camp, which was planned by Carlin and open to the public. Erin, Lawson, Tori, and Carlin sang the song "All Along" by Rebecca J. Peck and Mark Lanier at the party. Many of the older Bates kids and friends performed skits at the party as well.
Trace is said to be fun and spunky. He enjoys playing any kind of game, although football is his favorite.
Personal life[]
Courting Chaney
Courtship with Chaney[]
Trace courted Chaney Kahle from early 2019 to early 2020. The couple first met while on ski trips in Colorado with their respective families in January 2019. They began publicly appearing together in pictures while on a trip to Disney World in May 2019. Their relationship was publicly confirmed on July 11, 2019. Trace and Chaney officially announced their courtship on September 11, 2019. On September 19, 2019, Trace's mother Kelly shared in a Facebook Live video that the two were courting. Their courtship proposal was featured on the Bringing Up Bates episode "Texas or Bust?".
On February 3, 2020, Trace confirmed their breakup in an Instagram post, stating Chaney felt that they were not ready to take their relationship further. Their breakup announcement was featured on the Bringing Up Bates episode "Roaring Bates and Pending Due Dates".
Courting Lydia
Relationship with Lydia[]
On December 10, 2021, Trace announced via Instagram that he was in a relationship with Lydia Romeike. Of the relationship, Trace wrote: "So blessed to call you mine". It had been speculated for a few weeks prior to this announcement that they were in a relationship. Lydia had been seen alongside Trace at some of his family's events on his sisters' Instagram stories. They officially started dating on August 11, 2021. They were set up by his sister Josie, who befriended Lydia after working together on a photoshoot a year prior.
Engaged
Engagement[]
On March 31, 2022, Trace and Lydia announced that they were engaged. They got engaged on March 21, 2022 at Embassy Suites Hotel in Knoxville, Tennessee. Their engagement is featured on their YouTube channel.
"It's hard to describe the emotions you feel when you are fixing to ask the girl of your dreams to marry you. I just know that Lydia is my best friend, and she's the most positive thing in my life. It's hard to imagine a day going by without seeing her or talking to her. I knew I wanted her to be by my side forever."
Just married
Marriage[]
On October 1, 2022, Trace married Lydia Johanna Romeike at Colley Hill Farm in Jefferson City, Tennessee. The wedding had around 350 guests. The couple shared their first kiss at the altar. The wedding was officiated by Trace's father Gil Bates and Lydia's pastor Dean Haun. Trace's best men were his brothers Jackson and Warden. His groomsmen were his brother Isaiah, Lydia's brothers Joshua and Christian, and his friends Logan Smith and Jonas Thatcher. The ring bearers were Trace's brother Jeb, Trace's nephew Bradley, and Lydia's family friend Weston Nafziger. Lydia's matron of honor was her sister-in-law Hannah and her maid of honor was her sister Damaris. Her bridesmaids were Trace's sisters Josie, Addallee, and Ellie and her friends Emily Dollar and Chloe Graham. The flower girls were Trace's nieces Willow and Khloé and Lydia's family friend Lydia Nafziger. Trace's brother Lawson sang at the wedding. The pianists were Trace's sister Erin and Trace's brother-in-law Bobby. The violinist was Trace's sister Tori. The ushers were Trace's brother-in-law Kelton, Lydia's brother Daniel, and Trace's family friends Jason Duggar and Austin Forsyth. Their wedding was featured on their YouTube channel.
For their honeymoon, Trace and Lydia went to Hawai'i.
Fatherhood[]
Baby Ryker
In late February 2023, Trace and Lydia teased that they had a huge announcement coming on March 4, 2023. On March 4, 2023, they announced that they were expecting their first child, due September 26, 2023. On April 1, 2023, they revealed that they were expecting a boy. On May 12, 2023, they revealed that they would be naming their son Ryker Cruise. Ryker Cruise Bates was born at 11:54 p.m. on September 12, 2023, in Knoxville, Tennessee. He weighed 6 pounds and 8 ounces, and was 19 ½ inches long.
On February 24, 2024, Trace and Lydia uploaded a video to their YouTube channel where they revealed that they found out they were expecting what would have been their second child, but they suffered a miscarriage on February 12, 2024. They named their miscarried child Angel Bates. On September 14, 2024, Lydia revealed that it was Angel's due date.
Baby Kaia
On December 7, 2024, Trace and Lydia announced that they were expecting their "rainbow" baby, due June 13, 2025. On February 1, 2025, they revealed that they were expecting a girl. On May 31, 2025, they revealed that they would be naming their daughter Kaia Rae. Kaia Rae Bates was born at 11:14 p.m. on June 12, 2025, in Knoxville, Tennessee. She weighed 6 pounds and 14 ounces.
Career[]
Education[]
On May 7, 2018, Trace received a one-year Bible certificate from The Crown College. He was a member of the Crown College Choir.
Lawn Care[]
Trace took over his brother Lawson's lawn care business, Lawson's Lawn Care in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, around the time he graduated high school in 2016.
Trick Rider[]
Trace aspires to be a trick rider for the Dixie Stampede in Branson, Missouri. He has auditioned at least once in 2016.
Law Enforcement[]
Trace worked as a Deputy Sheriff for the Anderson County Sheriff's Department in Clinton, Tennessee. He worked alongside his brothers Zach and Lawson.
Excavating[]
Trace sometimes works for his father Gil's tree excavating company, Bates Tree Service in Rocky Top, Tennessee. He works alongside his brothers Zach, Lawson, Nathan, Jackson, Warden, and Isaiah.
Construction[]
Trace worked for his brother-in-law Chad's business, Paine Construction in Knoxville, Tennessee. He worked alongside his brothers Jackson, Warden, and Isaiah.
In May 2022, Trace started his own construction business, Bates Construction in Knoxville, Tennessee. He works alongside his brother Warden.
Disaster Relief[]
Trace volunteers for MEDIC Corps, helping people around the world hit by natural disasters. He works alongside some of his brothers and some of the Duggar siblings.
Television[]
Trace appeared on the TLC show 19 Kids and Counting many times as a child and teenager.
In 2012, TLC aired one season of the show United Bates of America, which focused on Trace's family.
In 2015, UpTV began airing a similar show, Bringing Up Bates. Trace was regularly featured on both shows.
Wedding involvement[]
Trace was an usher at his brother Zach's wedding to Whitney Perkins on December 14, 2013.
He was an usher at his sister Alyssa's wedding to John Webster on May 24, 2014.
He was a groomsman at his sister Michaela's wedding to Brandon Keilen on August 15, 2015.
He was a groomsman at his family friend Joseph Duggar's wedding to Kendra Caldwell on September 8, 2017.
He was a groomsman at his sister Tori's wedding to Bobby Smith on December 16, 2017.
He was a groomsman at his sister Josie's wedding to Kelton Balka on October 5, 2018.
He was a groomsman at his sister Carlin's wedding to Evan Stewart on May 25, 2019.
He was a groomsman at his friend Jonas Thatcher's wedding to Makayla Landrum on October 19, 2019.
He was a groomsman at his friend Austin Warren's wedding to Leanne Gibbs on January 24, 2020.
He was a groomsman at his brother Nathan's wedding to Esther Keyes on October 22, 2021.
He was a groomsman at his brother-in-law Daniel's wedding to Hannah Pressley on May 8, 2022.
He was a groomsman at his brother Lawson's wedding to Tiffany Espensen on May 12, 2022.
He was a groomsman at his brother Jackson's wedding to Emerson Wells on October 14, 2023.
