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WATERTOWN — One of the more than 200 cowgirls and cowboys slated to compete this weekend in the 51st Eastern Dakota 4-H Regional Rodeo at Derby Downs is a multi-time state and world champion.
Ace Lammers of Henry added to a growing list of honors in his young rodeo career by winning the boys' goat tying event in the 2026 National Junior High Finals Rodeo June 21-27 at Guthrie, OK.
"Oh, it's a pretty big deal. It's a major accomplishment," Lammers said. "I was second going into the finals. The top three we're all pretty close and I had a good run. I was pretty sure I was going to win it after that."
By winning, he joined a tiny list of South Dakota champions in the rodeo, which has been held annually since 2005. Lammers became only the 10th South Dakotan, and first from the northeast part of the state, to win an event at the NJHFR.
Past South Dakota NJHFR event champions include Taos Weborg of Gregory (******** steer riding, 2022), Brylee Grubb of Spearfish (barrel racing, 2019), Rickie Engesser of Spearfish (barrel racing, 2012), Sawyer Gilbert of Buffalo (girls breakaway roping, 2016), J.D. Kirwan of Bonesteel (boys breakaway roping, 2012), Slone Weishaar of Belle Fourche and Casper Hammerstrom of New Underwood (team roping, 2023) and Rio Nutter of Rapid City and Denton Good of Long Valley (team roping, 2017). Jace Melvin of Fort Pierre earned All-Around Cowboy honors in 2007.
Ace and his younger brother Reo (also a budding rodeo star) are the sons of Chad and Tina Lammers of Henry, who competed in the sport in college before passing their love of rodeo down to their children. The Lammers' brothers are home-schooled. Ace will be a freshman this fall and Reo a sixth grader.
Ace has earned All-Around Junior Cowboy honors the past two years at the South Dakota State 4-H Finals Rodeo, winning goat tying three years in a row and the flag race twice. He has now moved up to the senior boys division in 4-H Rodeo.
One of Ace's biggest highlights came last summer when he won world championships in both junior boys' flag racing and goat tying, and along with it, earned Junior Boys All-Around Reserve Champion honors in the 2025 National Little Britches Rodeo — which was also held in Guthrie, OK.
"From the time they were little, we would take them out with us to the arena. They would sit in strollers and playpens. We would rope and they would entertain themselves," Tina Lammers said.
Like their parents, rodeo has become a big part of their lives. They spend many hours each week practicing on the family ranch, which also has an indoor barn that provides opportunity for continued training when the weather turns colder.
The Lammers' brothers were among a handful of area cowboys and cowgirls who qualified to represent South Dakota in the NHJHR by placing in the top four in events at the state junior high finals rodeo in May.
Ace not only qualified in goat tying, but he also competed at nationals in ribbon roping with partner Josey Franzen of Sundance, WY. Reo also competed in goat tying.
Rylan Carlson of Britton and Trace Gaikowski of Waubay were partners in team roping and Harper Harstad of Wilmot also competed in team roping with her partner Clare Brown of Sabin, MN.
The Lammers' brothers each made three performances in goat tying and advanced to the finals with Reo taking fifth and Ace eighth in the first go. Ace finished fourth in the second-go and closed by winning the short go with a time of 8.28 seconds (earning him an award for the best time in the finals). Ace won the average title with a total time of 27.99 seconds and Reo finished ninth at 32.27.
Additional honors came when Ace's horse (Watchn Snippys Angel) was named the AQHA Boys Horse of the Year at the rodeo.
More: Henry's Ace Lammers wins two world titles, crowned Junior Boys All-Around Reserve world champ in national rodeo
The Lammers' family didn't stop there with both brothers heading to Oklahoma City to compete June 28-July 4 in the 2026 National Little Britches Rodeo. Cowboys and cowgirls also have to qualify for the rodeo by placing in multiple events held each spring across South Dakota.
At nationals, Reo earned the title of Reserve World Champion Junior Boys flag racer by finishing second in average in junior boys' flag racing. He also placed seventh in the world in goat tying and sixth in average. Ace graduated up to senior boys and competed in the tiedown, ribbon and team roping events.
Other area competitors were Beau Redlin of South Shore, whose highlight included taking sixth in average in junior boys' breakaway roping; and Beau's sister Brylee and Adysyn Wiesner of Clear Lake, who both competed in senior girls' events.
The Lammers made it back to South Dakota over the weekend, and like many families across the state, will spend the next few weeks competing in regional 4-H rodeos with the goal of qualifying for the State 4-H Finals Rodeo Aug. 14-16 at Fort Pierre.
Ace Lammers should join the list of area athletes who will compete in South Dakota High School Rodeo next spring with Reo a few years away.
The long-term goal is a bigger one for Ace, who said that rodeo is the only sport he competes in.
"I'd like to go all the way, from high school to college and hopefully pro rodeo," he said. "Hopefully, I can make it to the National Finals Rodeo some day."
Ace is off to a good start and may have to keep going to stay a step ahead of his younger brother.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Success continues for Henry's Lammers brothers at national rodeos
Continue reading...
Ace Lammers of Henry added to a growing list of honors in his young rodeo career by winning the boys' goat tying event in the 2026 National Junior High Finals Rodeo June 21-27 at Guthrie, OK.
"Oh, it's a pretty big deal. It's a major accomplishment," Lammers said. "I was second going into the finals. The top three we're all pretty close and I had a good run. I was pretty sure I was going to win it after that."
By winning, he joined a tiny list of South Dakota champions in the rodeo, which has been held annually since 2005. Lammers became only the 10th South Dakotan, and first from the northeast part of the state, to win an event at the NJHFR.
Past South Dakota NJHFR event champions include Taos Weborg of Gregory (******** steer riding, 2022), Brylee Grubb of Spearfish (barrel racing, 2019), Rickie Engesser of Spearfish (barrel racing, 2012), Sawyer Gilbert of Buffalo (girls breakaway roping, 2016), J.D. Kirwan of Bonesteel (boys breakaway roping, 2012), Slone Weishaar of Belle Fourche and Casper Hammerstrom of New Underwood (team roping, 2023) and Rio Nutter of Rapid City and Denton Good of Long Valley (team roping, 2017). Jace Melvin of Fort Pierre earned All-Around Cowboy honors in 2007.
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Adding to the honors
Ace and his younger brother Reo (also a budding rodeo star) are the sons of Chad and Tina Lammers of Henry, who competed in the sport in college before passing their love of rodeo down to their children. The Lammers' brothers are home-schooled. Ace will be a freshman this fall and Reo a sixth grader.
Ace has earned All-Around Junior Cowboy honors the past two years at the South Dakota State 4-H Finals Rodeo, winning goat tying three years in a row and the flag race twice. He has now moved up to the senior boys division in 4-H Rodeo.
One of Ace's biggest highlights came last summer when he won world championships in both junior boys' flag racing and goat tying, and along with it, earned Junior Boys All-Around Reserve Champion honors in the 2025 National Little Britches Rodeo — which was also held in Guthrie, OK.
"From the time they were little, we would take them out with us to the arena. They would sit in strollers and playpens. We would rope and they would entertain themselves," Tina Lammers said.
Like their parents, rodeo has become a big part of their lives. They spend many hours each week practicing on the family ranch, which also has an indoor barn that provides opportunity for continued training when the weather turns colder.
You must be registered for see images attach
More about the NJHFR
The Lammers' brothers were among a handful of area cowboys and cowgirls who qualified to represent South Dakota in the NHJHR by placing in the top four in events at the state junior high finals rodeo in May.
Ace not only qualified in goat tying, but he also competed at nationals in ribbon roping with partner Josey Franzen of Sundance, WY. Reo also competed in goat tying.
Rylan Carlson of Britton and Trace Gaikowski of Waubay were partners in team roping and Harper Harstad of Wilmot also competed in team roping with her partner Clare Brown of Sabin, MN.
The Lammers' brothers each made three performances in goat tying and advanced to the finals with Reo taking fifth and Ace eighth in the first go. Ace finished fourth in the second-go and closed by winning the short go with a time of 8.28 seconds (earning him an award for the best time in the finals). Ace won the average title with a total time of 27.99 seconds and Reo finished ninth at 32.27.
Additional honors came when Ace's horse (Watchn Snippys Angel) was named the AQHA Boys Horse of the Year at the rodeo.
More: Henry's Ace Lammers wins two world titles, crowned Junior Boys All-Around Reserve world champ in national rodeo
Additional time on the road
The Lammers' family didn't stop there with both brothers heading to Oklahoma City to compete June 28-July 4 in the 2026 National Little Britches Rodeo. Cowboys and cowgirls also have to qualify for the rodeo by placing in multiple events held each spring across South Dakota.
At nationals, Reo earned the title of Reserve World Champion Junior Boys flag racer by finishing second in average in junior boys' flag racing. He also placed seventh in the world in goat tying and sixth in average. Ace graduated up to senior boys and competed in the tiedown, ribbon and team roping events.
Other area competitors were Beau Redlin of South Shore, whose highlight included taking sixth in average in junior boys' breakaway roping; and Beau's sister Brylee and Adysyn Wiesner of Clear Lake, who both competed in senior girls' events.
The Lammers made it back to South Dakota over the weekend, and like many families across the state, will spend the next few weeks competing in regional 4-H rodeos with the goal of qualifying for the State 4-H Finals Rodeo Aug. 14-16 at Fort Pierre.
You must be registered for see images attach
Keep working toward the future
Ace Lammers should join the list of area athletes who will compete in South Dakota High School Rodeo next spring with Reo a few years away.
The long-term goal is a bigger one for Ace, who said that rodeo is the only sport he competes in.
"I'd like to go all the way, from high school to college and hopefully pro rodeo," he said. "Hopefully, I can make it to the National Finals Rodeo some day."
Ace is off to a good start and may have to keep going to stay a step ahead of his younger brother.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Success continues for Henry's Lammers brothers at national rodeos
Continue reading...
