Brad Tonnessen

Brad is from Paonia, CO, and serves as the Research Scientist at the CSU Organic Agriculture Research Station at Rogers Mesa. He is working to sustain and build the community presence of this research station and produce ground-breaking research to benefit farmers. Brad focuses on bridging the communication gap between the public and the university, emphasizing applied research to solve immediate issues, especially drought. He grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and earned his PhD in plant pathology with CSU. Before ending up in western CO, he was an organic farming teacher for a non-profit in Sacramento, CA, and a chile pepper breeder in southern NM. Outside the research station, you’ll find Brad either biking, fishing, dancing, or starting new projects like brewing hard cider from his surplus apples.