University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate student Shelley Curry has been awarded a 2025 W.D. Farr Scholarship by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation.
Curry, a fourth-generation rancher and Ph.D. candidate in Nebraska's animal science program, is studying how heat stress affects livestock performance, welfare and product quality under Dr. Dustin Yates. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal science from Texas A&M University. Her commitment to the beef industry is rooted in a lifetime of experience, academic training and professional development. Curry’s professional goal is to become an independent researcher and educator dedicated to advancing the beef industry through innovative, science-based solutions.
“This scholarship will provide critical support to further my education and research and will allow me to share my findings at national scientific conferences, producer meetings and industry workshops,” Curry said. “Disseminating research in these forums not only advances scientific knowledge but also ensures that producers, students and consumers benefit from timely, research-based information.”
The scholarship honors the successful career of the late W.D. Farr of Greeley, Colorado through two annual $15,000 graduate scholarships bearing his name. Farr, who passed away in 2007 at the age of 97, was a third generation Coloradoan, pioneer rancher, statesman and banker known for his extraordinary vision. His dedication to improving agriculture, livestock and water development has resulted in significant changes in farming methods that have influenced the practices of ranchers and farmers throughout the nation.
The recipients will be recognized at CattleCon 2026, scheduled for Feb. 3–5 in Nashville, Tennessee.
