Lisa Lockhart Becomes First WPRA Member to Reach $4 Million in Career Earnings

Lisa Lockhart becomes the first Women’s Professional Rodeo Association member to surpass the $4 million mark in career earnings all from barrel racing. Lockhart of Oelrichs, South Dakota, finished second in the average at La Fiesta de los Vaqueros in Tucson, Arizona, to seal the deal as her quest for her 20th National Finals Rodeo qualification is well underway.

Article by Ann Bleiker, courtesy WPRA

“No. 1, I hadn’t thought about it (the milestone) and was not on my radar at all,” said a surprised Lockhart. “I have always said records are made to be broken but anytime you can cross the bridge first it is cool. I feel very honored and it is quite an accomplishment.”

For the finals in Tucson, Lockhart had to call upon a new team member, Y Try Firewater who she calls “Copper,” because she left Rosas Cantina CC in Houston, Texas, for Rodeo Houston which started March 2. She bought Copper as a yearling and trained him so to have him step up and get the check to push her over the mark is special.

“It is cool to have another one to be part of the whole team,” Lockhart said of Copper. “I am always proud of my team, and it has been a team of horses to get to this mark. To have it be on one that I trained is very cool.”

Copper had only been called upon at a couple of circuit rodeos, Denver and San Antonio prior to the Final round in Tucson which was held February 21 – March 1, but he listened to his jockey and got her to this historic accomplishment.

Lockhart joined the WPRA in 1993 and spent her early career making a name for herself in the Badlands Circuit Finals. In fact, it was there in 2022 where she surpassed the $3 million mark in her career. She qualified for her first NFR in 2007 and hasn’t missed one since.

She has won the NFR average title three times in her career in 2014, 2016 and 2023. In 2025, she tied the record for the most NFR qualifications with Charmayne James and Sherry Cervi at 19. She crossed the $1 million mark in her career in 2012, the $2 million in 2016, $3 million in 2022 and on March 1, 2026, she hit the $4 million mark.

“I never imagined this,” Lockhart said. “I never imagined making it to the NFR let alone 19 times let alone crossing $4 million. I didn’t grow up thinking about it, believing it or wanting it. The fact that it has happened by chance more than anything is amazing. I guess if you just put your head down and work hard as you can, then what will be will be. I am very honored.”

She has come a long way from serving on the Oelrichs, South Dakota, school board to being a fan favorite and now $4 million barrel racer in the WPRA, she also has more than $4.2 million in EquiStat earnings, which accounts for all barrel racing earnings such as divisional and aged-event and not only professional rodeo earnings.