Caitlin Thornton
Miss Rodeo Idaho 2012
“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson. Caitlin’s enthusiasm for the sport of rodeo and the state of Idaho played an integral part in earning her the title of Miss Rodeo Idaho 2012. On July 20th, 2011, at the 96th annual Snake River Stampede in Nampa, Idaho, Caitlin became the 57th Miss Rodeo Idaho. The audience was delighted when she took home the crown; winning the Personality, Rodeo Knowledge, Photogenic, and Horsemanship Awards.
Caitlin is the 22-year-old daughter of Dan and Pat Thornton of Meridian, Idaho. She is a Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho native who moved to Twin Falls in 2005. As a part of the Twin Falls High School Rodeo Team she competed in Barrel Racing, Goat Tying, Breakaway Roping, and Pole Bending. Later she joined the College of Southern Idaho Equestrian Team and earned the honor of competing in the English and Western Semi-Finals in 2008 and 2009. Caitlin has also been an active member of the American Quarter Horse Association competing in Reining and Working Cowhorse.
Caitlin is working towards her Associates degree in Equine Business Management from the College of Southern Idaho and hopes one day to open her own horse training facility. After obtaining her Associates from CSI, she plans on transferring to Boise State University to pursue a Bachelors degree in Secondary Education.
In the future, Caitlin plans on becoming a Middle School U.S. History teacher, where she hopes to spread her love of history to the younger generation of Americans. It is Caitlin’s belief that “without knowledge of our past, we will severely limit our ability to create a better future.”
Promoting the sport of rodeo across the state and nation is an exciting opportunity for Caitlin. She looks forward to sharing her love of rodeo with others who have yet to experience what the sport is all about. “I had an outside view of rodeo growing up, so being able to connect with first time fans is very exciting to me. I want to focus on encouraging these first time fans to become lifetime fans because history has shown, rodeo will only continue to grow if the fans grow along with it.”
