The Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth was filled with the ranch sorting community on Monday, Jan. 19, for a charity event that raised $85,000 for Cook Children’s Medical Center. Organized by TR Performance Horse’s Tommy and Laura Roberson and ranch sorter Don Lamont, the event featured a new format with a single All-Levels class, limited spots, a $100,000 payout, and a charitable mission.
For Lamont, the event was about more than just the prize money—it was about using ranch sorting to support children battling cancer, a cause close to his heart after losing his first wife to the disease. The Robersons, especially Tommy, a cancer survivor himself, resonated with this mission.
The day included honoring two young cancer survivors from Cook Children’s, a live auction, and a Calcutta, all contributing to the $85,000 raised for the oncology programs at the hospital.
The event also crowned champions Joel Lesh and Tanner Keith, who won $40,000 by topping the field with a time of 215.06 on 34 head across four rounds. The competition drew top teams, with 150 entries selling out in just two hours.
The event served as a test for ranch sorting, and with positive feedback and successful fundraising, Lamont and the Robersons are hopeful to expand and raise even more in the future. The Cowtown Showdown proved to be a successful blend of sport, charity, and community support. The event’s $1,000 entry fee, limited spots, and six-figure payout were a new format in the discipline, designed to test the ranch sorting community’s support for a high-stakes event focused on competition and cause. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with a sellout field, public interest, and strong fundraising results.
“It wasn’t a normal sorting,” Roberson remarked. “It was something nobody had ever seen before.”
The evening concluded with a live concert by Austin English, showcasing ranch sorting as a spectator-friendly event that could stand alongside established Western disciplines.
Celebrity Ranch Sorting added to the fun at the Cowtown Showdown, with horsemen from various disciplines partnering with RSNC professionals to try their hand at ranch sorting. The lineup included notable figures like AQHA Professional Bobby Lewis, PRCA steer wrestler Clayton Hass, and PBR Rider Bonner Bolton.
“It was a blast,” said Hass. “It’s fun to do something different. The timing element adds a new level of excitement. The cattle always keep things interesting.”
Guest sorter and RSNC founder Dave Wolfe took the top honor, sorting eight head in 57.73 seconds while partnered with his son, RSNC Event Director Logan.
“This event has come a long way,” Dave Wolfe reflected. “To have a class paying out $100,000 at this benefit is a fantastic opportunity. I’m very proud of ranch sorting. It’s a full-circle moment.”
This article originally appeared in the Winter 2026 issue of The Ranch Sorter.
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—H&R—