Kissimmee, Fla.-The optimism of the winter is infectious, especially when you are talking with second year WPRA member Lacy Wilson. Many WPRA members hit the rodeo road hard during the winter time, all with the same goal: to finish the year in Las Vegas at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Wilson is no different than her peers in her ultimate goal but the New Mexico cowgirl is really enjoying the ride and her joy is palpable. Wilson is probably unheard of by most WPRA fans and barrel racers but she has made the rounds at the WPRA Women's rodeos for several years, traveling with her brother Justin and sister-in-law Brooke Hughes-Wilson, the 2007 WPRA Reserve World Champion Tie Down Roper. Wilson ran barrels and breakaway roped and still says that the women's rodeos were lots of fun.

Since acquiring a new horse back in August, Wilson is still having a ball but is gaining more fame as she picks up paychecks at some of the biggest winter rodeos on the WPRA circuit. She currently finds herself ninth in the world standings with over $15K won.

"I arrived in Fort Worth with $10 in my pocket, no kidding," she laughs. "I had to charge my entry fees. But I ended up placing in a couple of rounds and being fourth in the average so I had a little money in my pocket, thank goodness. But I thought, man I cut it a little close on that one."

It hasn't been close since. Wilson chose to travel south to Florida after her success in Texas, staying with friends, and top Southeastern Circuit hands, Wendy Culberson and Doreen Wintermute. With traveling partners for the first time this season, Wilson was the high money earner of the weekend, claiming the victory at the 124th Silver Spurs Rodeo in Kissimmee and third at the Brighton Field Day and PRCA Rodeo in Okeechobee.

"I am always traveling on my own and it was so much fun to go with those girls," says Wilson.

The key to Wilson's success is the six year old wonder, Cottons Effort. Cotton was trained by Sue Barrington of Lubbock, Texas, not far from Wilson's home in Artesia, N.M. Barrington was diagnosed with breast cancer not long into the colt's futurity year in 2008, and Sheila Zant took the reins for the Old Fort Days Futurity in Fort Smith, Ark., finishing amongst the leaders. With Barrington unable to finish the colt out, she decided to sell and Wilson took over in August 2009.

"Sue is just the neatest person and I just found out that she has one treatment left and the doctors say she will be cancer free," Wilson explains, "I am so happy for her, she is my hero."

Cotton and Wilson went "straight to the rodeos" after he landed in her barn. Though a little rocky at times -"I coulda turned my Dodge tighter around the barrels at Payson last fall"-Wilson is having a blast with her new friend.

"He is so neat, I just love him," she says. "He is the sweetest natured horse I have ever had and he loves me."

Wilson says her colt is a "freak of nature," walking non-chalantly up the alley before runs and being all business in the competition.

"Even when we make mistakes, and look like a six year old, he still clocks," she says. "He is amazing, a blessing straight from God."

At Kissimmee, Wilson and Cotton smoked the pattern in 17.34 seconds for the victory worth $2,892. At Okeechobee, she turned in a 15.29, good enough for third behind reigning WPRA World Champion Brittany Pozzi and Southeastern Circuit standout Jewels Denapoli. Her check was worth $1,538 for a total take home of nearly $4,500 for the weekend.

It's a far cry from the $10 she had when she began her 2010 campaign. Wilson is staying in Florida for a time before coming back west for RodeoAustin in mid-March.

"I'm going to keep going until the money runs out and then I'll find something else to do, I guess," she laughs. "In the meantime, I just want to have fun, go to the rodeos that I've always wanted to since I was a little girl, and hopefully it will all work out."