Cali Brookshire and Joel Lesh, both experienced sorters, excelled in the Spalding Labs Western Heritage All Levels event at the 2026 Cinch RSNC World Finals. Their time of 218.12 on 39 head earned them $7,972 and set the tone for their week in Fort Worth.
Brookshire, a recent Texas A&M graduate, commented on their success, attributing it to their familiarity with each other. She mentioned staying at the Leshes’ place and their shared knowledge of each other’s strategies, making their performance simpler.
Their solid runs leading up to the final round showcased their teamwork and skill. Despite facing some challenges in the third round, they remained focused and made strategic decisions to keep their momentum going.
In the championship round, Lesh’s intuition guided them to switch sides in the pen, leading to a successful run. Their smooth and strategic approach, along with effective communication, helped them secure the win.
First Win of the World Finals
Their partnership was powered by Brookshire’s mare, Metallic Mary (Alani), and Lesh’s mare, Cattys Rose. Alani, a 9-year-old mare, was purchased from Louie and Niki Saggione and excelled in the Western Heritage classes. Rose, also 9 years old, showcased her versatility and skill under Lesh’s guidance.
Powered by Mares: Alani and Rose
Overall, the win was a rewarding start to their World Finals experience. Lesh’s success extended beyond the Western Heritage All Levels event, showcasing his talent and versatility in multiple classes throughout the week in Fort Worth.
Cali Brookshire secured a check in the #18 Bareback/Bridleless class alongside Cloraldo Leal Jr., boosting her weekly earnings to $3,655.
Spalding Labs Western Heritage All Levels — 2026 World Finals saw Cali Brookshire from Crosby, Texas, and Joel Lesh from Stillwater, Oklahoma emerge as the champions with a winning run of 218.12 on 39 head. They received a first-place payout of $7,972, contributing to the total class payout of $32,150.
Top 10 Payouts:
1. Cali Brookshire / Joel Lesh – $7,972
2. Colleen Galloway / Trent Knight – $5,620
3. Kim Christy / Haily Mangold – $4,026
4. Jared Lesh / Dave Schaffner – $2,788
5. Randy Graham / Dan Weigand – $2,370
6. Joel Lesh / Larry Newport – $1,952
7. Tucker Field / Jared Lesh – $1,674
8. Reece Stanfill / Will McKee – $1,394
9. Sadey Rasmussen / Sidney Rasmussen – $1,116
10. Dan Weigand / Iosvany Castillo – $976
For more information, check out the Summer 2026 issue of The Ranch Sorter.