Maddie Gunter is the 18 year old horse crazy daughter of Sandpoint natives, Ben and Teresa Gunter. Maddie is currently pursuing a degree in Elementary Education through North Idaho College and the University of Idaho. In her ten year involvement with the Bonner County 4-H program, Maddie developed a passion for working with young children and helping them reach their full potential, and she plans to make a career out of that passion! 

 

Maddie’s many hobbies and interests include community service, music, movies, being outdoors in any capacity, and agriculture. But her greatest love has always been horses and the sport of rodeo. She participated in her first barrel race at 5 and has competed in several play days and barrel races since. She has also carried sponsor flags in the Bonner County Rodeo for several years. Being involved in Horse 4H for over half her life has allowed Maddie to greatly advance her horsemanship skills and give her the opportunity to compete in and win various horse judging competitions at both the state and national levels. Maddie is incredibly passionate about taking any opportunity available to her to improve her knowledge on all things horse related in order to be the best horsewoman she can be! This is Maddie's second year holding the Miss Sandpoint Rodeo title and over the course of the first year of her reign, Maddie was able to make lifelong friendships and memories that gave her a love of being a representative for rodeo and the western way of life! 

 

When Maddie was 4 years old, she declared that she would one day be a rodeo queen when she met the 2009 Miss Rodeo Idaho Freya Ford and fell in love with the greatest sport on dirt. 14 years later, Maddie is honored to be living out her dream and representing her hometown rodeo while sharing her love of rodeo with people from all walks of life. Maddie aims to hold the title of Miss Rodeo Idaho one day so that she can show America what it really means to be an Idahoan and a cowgirl! Maddie wants to inspire everyone she meets to saddle up, take hold of the reins, and never stop chasing after your dreams!