Originally from the UK, Mrs Ferris lives on a 500 cow dairy farm outside Te Kuiti with her husband, also named Nick, and she and her family also own farms in Waikato and Southland. She is active on several school and community boards and groups and represents DWN's regional convenors on its board of trustees.
Mrs Thomas worked in the tourism industry for more than 20 years before returning to her farming roots in Southland.
In 2012 she became DWN's regional convenor for Invercargill and in 2016 took on a new role as the Southern Regional Hub leader.
She's involved with several community groups including Takitimu School PTA, Western Southland Tennis, Takitimu District Board Pool, is editor of the Takitumu Community newsletter and much more.
"I have often said that our dairy communities are supported by people just like Cathy, Katrina and Alison," says DWN chief executive Zelda de Villiers.
"In any rural community you have those special people who keep the wheels of groups and initiatives turning, while continuing to milk the cows and raise families. While it may seem effortless from the outside, we know there's a huge amount of work and dedication there and too often it goes unrecognised."
The Dairy Community Leadership Award is sponsored by ASB and Tompkins Wake and includes a scholarship prize to attend a leadership programme. The selection panel comprises DWN's CEO, ASB and Tompkins Wake representatives and a DWN regional convenor.
The award recognises the voluntary role dairy farming women have in leading their communities and sharing their time and skills beyond the farm gate.
Mrs Prendergast says the passion she has for her community, and agriculture in general, makes community involvement fun.
"It's not a job for me at all. I genuinely enjoy giving back to my community. I feel like I've gotten so much out of living here - I've spent most of my life here and I couldn't imagine living anywhere else," she says.
Mrs Thomas says she gets a lot of satisfaction from seeing newcomers to the rural community "establish themselves" and find enjoyment in a farming lifestyle.
"I wear many hats in my community and as a result I'm constantly meeting new people who have arrived to live in our part of New Zealand. It's great being able to work with them and help them settle in and see for themselves how great our community is."
Mrs Ferris' journey to community leadership began at a DWN conference in 2014. "A friend asked me if I wanted to head along, so I went and ended up leaving feeling really inspired," she says.
"I've found the opportunities that have been made available to me as a DWN member have given me fantastic experience and an even bigger love of farming and all things rural."