Citizen of the West

Sharon Magness Blake, 46th Citizen of the West

The National Western Stock Show proudly announces Sharon Magness Blake as the 2025 Citizen of the West. This prestigious award recognizes those who embody the spirit and determination of the Western pioneer—a true representative of Western lifestyle, ideals, agricultural heritage, and traditions. A committee of community leaders selects recipients.

Magness Blake is an equine enthusiast, entrepreneur, and philanthropic leader. Her love and knowledge of Arabian horses helped grow Magness Racing Ventures to 900 horses sold worldwide at its peak. Its most famous product was Thunder, who serves as the Denver Broncos mascot that led the team onto the field starting in 199; that tradition continues today with Thunder IV.

Magness Blake is currently the president of the Thunder Foundation; her business ventures also include her partnership in the renowned Denver caterer the Epicurean Group.

While her philanthropic efforts have been many, Magness Blake’s most prominent efforts have revolved around her cofounding and longtime leadership of Western Fantasy for Volunteers of America (VOA), Over three decades, the event and Magness Blake’s own generous contributions raised more than $36 million for VOA. In 2024, the national arm of the organization bestowed on her its first-ever Transformative Philanthropy Award, which henceforth will be named in her honor.

The alternative weekly, Westword, has described Magness Blake as “Denver’s go-to woman for those in need.” Among her honors have included the 2011 Mizel Community Enrichment Award, which the Denver Post described this way: “How does one even begin to thank Sharon Magness Blake for having raised at least $50 million for local charities? Giving her the Mizel Museum Community Enrichment Award is a nice start.” Since that time, Magness Blake has continued raising money for a host of charitable causes, and that figure now tops $100 million.

She served on the boards of the University of Colorado Hospital Foundation, the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation, Volunteers of America, the Denver Art Museum, the University of Denver, the National Cable Television Center and Museum, Wings Over the Rockies, and the Denver Council of the Boy Scouts of America for which she chaired the annual Sports Breakfast—the first woman to hold that role.

Over the years, Magness Blake has chaired or co-chaired numerous events and galas, including National Repertory Orchestra’s Summer Gala, Susan G. Komen’s Pink Tie Affair, and the Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s annual Be Beautiful Be Yourself Gala. She also helped to orchestrate the Garth Brooks’s concert for the Denver Health Foundation’s annual event, and she organizes the Denver Broncos’ annual holiday party for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. She also co-founded Men for the Cure’s annual event steak-and-cigar dinner.

Magness Blake is a Trustee for the National Western Stock Show and serves on the Honoring the Legacy Capital Campaign Committee.

The widow of cable pioneer Bob Magness, Magness Blake has been married to retired attorney and former Breckenridge mayor Ernie Blake since 2004.

Magness Blake’s leadership and generosity have enriched the West in countless ways. She embodies all the qualities befitting a great Citizen of the West.