Garrick Moritz, Gazette
The new President of First Bank and Trust in Garretson has already started at the bank, but he will be taking over officially on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. His name is Jason Long and he’s originally from Harrisburg, SD.
“I started in the banking business back in 2012 at Wells Fargo,” Long said. “I’ve worked for business banking and Ag banking down in Beresford. Nine years ago, I moved to First National Bank up in Brandon, and four years ago my wife and I moved to a place just four miles west of Garretson.”
Long is a family man. He and his wife Kayla have two small children, Morgan who’s 3 years old and Rilee who’s one. With their kids at that age, he said they keep him on his toes most of the time.
“You sleep when you can,” he said ruefully, “But they’re amazing and I’m truly very happy and very lucky.”
Long said that he recognized right away the opportunity of this job for him and is very happy to take it up.
“Ron is one of those people that’s irreplaceable,” he said. “I can do the job, but because they’ve developed such a culture of excellence and professionalism, that I can easily transition into the role. Just in my first days here I could clearly see that First Bank in Garretson is people and relationship driven. It’s a great staff that’s already easy to work with and I’m fitting right in. Our focus is on local customers. Ag is very important, and that’s certainly an area I’m experienced with. My focus first will be getting to know all our customers and what their needs are and how we can match what we do to those needs for their success. Garretson is a great town, just an excellent place to live, to do business and make a living. I want to see the town continue to thrive and succeed, and help our customers find new and interesting opportunities they can capitalize on, and I hope to be a big part of that for many years to come. Like any profession, you get out of it what you put into it and I intend to put my very best into making this bank and my customers succeed.”
But Long is not all work and no play. He said that he’s all for anything outdoors, which with the amenities in Garretson as they are is just ideal.
“I love anything outdoors,” he said. “Spending time out on the lake, hunting, fishing, outdoor sports, anything outdoorsy, I’m in. I’m also a huge Vikings fan, with all the pain and disappointment that can bring. And as an SDSU grad, I also love to Back the Jacks.”
Long takes over as the new President of First Bank and Trust in Garretson this Friday, Jan 26. Rod Wolforth has a retirement party going on from 1-3 p.m. that day at First Bank and the Garretson Commercial Club is hosting a mixer party in his honor at the Sports Cabin across the street starting after business hours at 5 p.m.
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