story by Siri Stevens
Cole Steib’s first year in the Louisiana Junior High Rodeo was successful. The sixth grader made it to Nationals in the team roping, and ended up sixth in the state in the breakaway roping. “It was big,” he said about the Junior High National Finals Rodeo in Perry, Georgia. “There were a lot of people. I wasn’t nervous – I caught both my steers.”
Roping is a skill that Cole learned through his life on the family ranch (Long’s Ranch), located in south Louisiana, near Lottie, between Baton Rouge and Lafayette. His dad, John, learned to rope from Cole’s great grandpa (Raymond Long), who lives next door. “I go stay over there with him a bunch just to talk to him and keep him company,” said Cole. The ranch has been in the family since the 1940s, the operation includes cattle, hay and a preconditioning yard with yearlings. Cole’s main job on the ranch is working cows. “I also rake and fluff the hay – that’s my favorite part, its faster. I don’t cut or bale, my dad does that.” Mr. Raymond was president of the Brahman Association from 1983-1985 and Cole shows Brahman Cattle for 4-H, ABBA, and AJBA.
John competed in team roping in college and team roped and rode saddle broncs at Texas A&M. “I work for myself and was working to a degree in Animal Science, and switched to Criminal Justice,” said John. “I moved back home and started building up the operation at the ranch.” John’s mom, Cindy, helped Miss Stephanie in the rodeo secretary office for years.
Cole competes in team roping, and ribbon roping, chute dogging, and breakaway. “I’d have to say team roping is my favorite event – I’m better at it. I grew up roping on the ranch; I rope anything that walks.” He rides three horses, all raised on the ranch, and given to Cole by his grandpa Mr. Johnny. “One of my horses (Lilly) was an orphan and I bottle fed her.” He also competes in cutting, winning buckles in ranch sorting and cutting, beginning when he was eight years old.
Cole goes to school 20 minutes from the ranch, in New Roads, Lousiana, making the daily trip with his older sister, Myla. Cole is the youngest of four, his oldest sister, Caroline, in in college; his middle sister is Myla, in her senior year; the youngest is Sadie, who is just starting to rope at 14. “I’ve been teaching her on the dummy.” When Cole isn’t working on the ranch, going to school or practicing his events, he likes to hunt hogs, deer, doves, and ducks. “We do all our own butchering and making jerky.” His mom, Melissa, helps with the ranch as well as working outside the home for the state.
Cole practices every Tuesday in New Roads and every Wednesday in Port Allen. Both are located about 20 minutes away. “We have a roping pen at our house that we are building, so hopefully I can rope at home,” concludes Cole of his plans for the future. “I just want to be a cowboy.”
