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He beat a field of New Zealand and Australia's leading primary producers for the prestigious trans-Tasman award.
Awarded annually as part of the Rabobank's Executive Development Programme (EDP), the prize recognises the participant who develops and presents the most outstanding business development project focused on strategic growth, leadership and long-term business sustainability.
The Rabobank EDP is a course developed for farmers looking to build their strategic planning capabilities and commercial management skills to explore options for business growth. It is run as two weekly residential modules held approximately a year apart.
Kane, who farms near Tapanui in West Otago with his wife Nicole, received the award at the graduation dinner for the EDP's 27th cohort on Thursday, July 23.
A fourth-generation farmer, Kane is a director of two family farming companies, including Westholm Dairies Limited, which operates a 668ha farming enterprise encompassing a 264ha dairy platform milking 700 crossbred cows, alongside beef finishing and stud cattle operations.
The project charted the evolution of the Kane family farming business across four generations and examined the strategic, financial and personal challenges involved in positioning the enterprise for future growth.
Developed following the first module of the EDP, Kane's project explored the family's transition from sheep and beef farming into dairying, the restructuring of the business to support the next generation, and the strategic decisions made to strengthen profitability, governance and succession outcomes.
The project also detailed the family's recent buy-out of extended family shareholders, a significant business reset undertaken in 2024, and a longer-term plan to reduce debt, fund future family obligations and create opportunities for continued expansion.
Kane said his attendance on the EDP had helped him think more holistically about his farming opportunities and career objectives.
"The first module last year got me thinking more about the whole of farm aspect, from business performance and community involvement, right through to things like personal fitness and nutrition," he said.
"There were a number of lightbulb moments on that first EDP module, and these gave my wife and I a bit of confidence to go and enter the 2026 Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
"We were fortunate enough to pick up the Otago Supreme Award, and our involvement with these awards was also really helpful for my business development project and the second module of the EDP."
Kane said the programme prompted the couple to reassess and review everything they were doing on farm.
"Prior to the programme, we thought we were doing pretty well and chugging along quite nicely, but the programme prompted us to have a really good look at the things we were doing well, and not so well, and to make some changes in areas that needed improvement,” he said.
“The course also provided some really good tools, certainly around investing and getting a decent return on investment on all aspects of our business.”
Valuable Networking
Luke Kane says he also found the networking aspect of the EDP hugely valuable.
“The calibre of the attendees on the programme is amazing and, even though there was only one other dairy farmer, there was still so many other things that I was able to take away from the attendees involved with other industries.”
EDP director Dr Robin Stonecash said Kane’s project stood out for its honest reflection on a complex family business journey and its practical application of strategic planning principles.
“The winner of the Dr John Morris prize presented a strong narrative about the journey the family farm business had gone on,” Stonecash said.
“He demonstrated that they understood the challenge of balancing the emotional needs of family members and the imperative of growing a strong business. They had the ability to pivot in their enterprise, leaned on their knowledge and experience and took what they learned from the EDP to develop a strong plan for the future.”
Stonecash said the project demonstrated the type of leadership and strategic thinking the Executive Development Programme seeks to foster.
“Luke showed a clear understanding of where his business has been, where it is today and, importantly, where it needs to go next. His project combined strong commercial thinking with a practical appreciation of the people and governance factors that influence long-term success.”
Community Leadership
Alongside his farming and business responsibilities, Luke Kane sits on Federated Farmers’ Dairy Council, where he advocates for practical, farmer-led solutions to dairy industry and regulatory challenges.
He has been an active contributor to regional water policy discussions and is passionate about ensuring farming businesses remain economically viable while continuing to improve environmental outcomes.
On farm, Luke and Nicole maintain a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, including planting native trees and managing riparian areas along the Pomahaka River.
The couple live on the farm with their two daughters, Poppy and Addison, continuing a family farming legacy that began when Luke’s great-grandparents, David and Nellie Kane, established the property in 1929.
Now in its twenty-seventh year, the Rabobank EDP has helped develop the strategic and leadership capabilities of more than 850 Australian and New Zealand farmers and agribusiness professionals.
The programme focuses on strategic planning, leadership, business growth, succession, governance and commercial decision-making, while fostering lifelong networks among progressive farming leaders across Australasia.
