Two graduate students with strong ties to the cattle industry are receiving national recognition for research aimed at advancing beef production and management.
National Cattlemen’s Foundation has awarded the 2025 W.D. Farr Scholarship to Shelley Curry of Kennard, Texas, and Sydney Bowman-Schnug of Fort Lupton, Colorado. Each recipient will receive $15,000. The foundation will recognize both students during CattleCon 2026, scheduled for Feb. 3–5 in Nashville, Tennessee.
The W.D. Farr Scholarship supports graduate students whose academic work and career goals contribute to the long-term strength of the beef industry. In particular, the program highlights research tied to animal performance, welfare, and production efficiency.
Research addresses heat stress and cattle nutrition
Curry is a fourth-generation rancher and a PhD candidate at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Her research focuses on how heat stress affects livestock performance, welfare, and product quality. Earlier, she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal science from Texas A&M University.
Through her work, Curry aims to develop practical, science-based solutions for producers. Looking ahead, she plans to build a career as an independent researcher and educator. She also intends to share her findings at scientific conferences, producer meetings, and industry workshops.
Meanwhile, Bowman-Schnug is a PhD candidate at Colorado State University. Her research centers on ruminant nutrition and management strategies that improve cattle performance while protecting animal health. She completed her master’s degree at Texas Tech University and comes from a third-generation Colorado cattle operation.
Ultimately, Bowman-Schnug plans to work as a consulting feedlot nutritionist. In that role, she hopes to combine traditional feeding strategies with emerging feed additive technologies that align with cattle type and production goals.
Scholarship honors legacy of industry leadership
The National Cattlemen’s Foundation established the W.D. Farr Scholarship in 2007 to honor the late W.D. Farr. Farr was a Colorado rancher and agricultural leader known for his influence on modern beef production and water development practices.
In addition, Farr served as the first president of the National Cattlemen’s Foundation and later led the American National Cattlemen’s Association, which evolved into the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
Through this scholarship program, the foundation continues to invest in education and research. As a result, the initiative helps prepare the next generation of industry professionals to address evolving challenges across the beef sector.
