Leilani Lobb Named 2026 Dairy Women’s Network Regional Leader of the Year
North Otago farmer Leilani Lobb has been named the 2026 Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) Regional Leader of the Year.
Dairy Women's Network (DWN) has announced a new limited edition DWN Monopoly NZ Dairy Farming Edition, created to celebrate the people, places and seasons.
The game will be sold only through Farm Source stores for a limited time.
The launch is scheduled to sit alongside the DWN Conference 2026 and Moving Day, giving farmers and supporters a chance to pick up a board as they head into the new season.
DWN chief executive Jules Benton says the idea grew out of a simple question: how do you tell the dairy story in a way the whole family can enjoy.
“Most of us have sat around the table for hours playing Monopoly at some point,” she says. “We wanted to take that familiar game and make it our own, so the board looks and feels like dairy life, the good days, the hard calls, and everything in between.”
Instead of buying and trading city streets, players travel through well‑known dairy regions and key parts of the farming calendar, including calving, mating, milk pick‑up, community days and more.
The cards draw on real‑life situations farmers face, and the board features a custom token and artwork that reflects the four seasons on the farm.
“It’s recognisable straight away as Monopoly, but the detail is very much home‑grown,” says Benton. “People will see places and scenarios they know and hopefully have a few laughs along the way.”
Proceeds from DWN Monopoly will help the Network continue its work supporting people in the sector through workshops, events, and resources that build confidence, skills, and connection.
“Every board that goes out the door helps us put more support in place for farming businesses and their teams,” Benton says. “It’s a fun way to give back to the sector and invest in its future at the same time.”
A wide range of agribusinesses have come on board to be part of the game through properties, cards, tokens and other elements.
“We’ve had strong support from across the sector, which really reflects how connected our industry is,” says Benton. “Seeing those brands on the board reinforces the network that sits behind farmers every day.”
An official launch event with Farm Source will be held in Te Awamutu on 1 May 2026, alongside Farm Source’s Pie Day Friday celebrations.
Attendees will also have a chance to have a go at playing on a life-size Monopoly board. DWN will also be celebrating the launch at Farm Source stores in Reporoa, Kaponga, Dannevirke, Culverden and Winton, with the game available to purchase at all Farm Source stores nationwide.
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