Patience And Perseverance Pay For Long

Jake Long has heeled at six of the last seven Wrangler National Finals Rodeos. He roped with Brady Tryan at his first and second ones in 2010-11, Travis Tryan in 2012, Coleman Proctor in 2014-15 and Luke Brown in 2016. Long, 33, is a native of Coffeyville, Kan., who lives with his wife, Tasha, and daughters, Haven and Haizlee, in Morgan Mill, Texas.

- Kendra Santos

KENDRA SANTOS: You won the 2007 Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo title with Colt Braden when you were a fifth year pro. Would you consider that your first big, breakout win?

JAKE LONG: Yes. I hadn’t won a whole lot in pro rodeo before that as far as a national-scene victory goes. It was kind of my first taste of success on the rodeo circuit.

KS: You didn’t make your first NFR until 2010, which was your eighth year out there. What were the most important things you needed to learn to get to that highest, world-class level?

JL: The first year that I really left home trying to make the Finals was 2007. It took learning that there are certain steers you have to just catch in certain situations. I started roping with Brady in 2010, and we buddied with (Brady’s big brother) Travis and Mike Jones. That was the first time I’d rodeoed with people who expected to make the Finals. To be able to follow a team like that around all year and see the belief those guys had was good for me and Brady both.

KS: I remember how emotional it was in 2014, when you helped Coleman realize his NFR dream for the first time. How long have you guys been best friends?