Agriculture Program Lead

Stephen Bramwell, Associate Professor

WSU Thurston County Extension Director & Agriculture Specialist

bramwell@wsu.edu, (360) 790-9308

Main Interests

Use of conservation grazing for rare species and habitat protection on semi-natural grasslands in Western Washington and Oregon. Soil health management practices for grasslands, pastures, row crop production, and home gardens. Market development and farmer cooperatives for local agriculture and food access, including farm-to-school initiatives and market access for BIPOC farmers. Specialty grain production, new farmer training, agriculture workforce development.

Recent projects include

• Development conservation grazing strategies for habitat protection in Southwestern Washington prairie ecosystem. Conservation Grazing Toolkit.
• Establishment of the SW Washington Grazing Association
• Work with the SW WA Food Hub and Growers Cooperative to launch multi-farm produce boxes and Workplace Wellness Program
• Feasibility assessment for community-scale, minimally processed fruit and vegetables for minor vegetable growing region.

Education

• M.S Soil Science, Washington State University
• B.S Community Development from the Jackson School of International Studies. Botany Minor, University of Washington 
• Tidal Leadership Certificate of Completion, WSU Center for Transformational Learning & Leadership 

Publications

• Bramwell, S.G., P. Watson, S. Hamman, and K. Painter. 2026. Economic impacts of using working lands and prairie preserves for habitat protection: An example from Thurston County, Washington. Journal for Nature Conservation 89.
• Bramwell, S.G. S. Hamman, M. Chaney, S. Smith, and T. Straight. 2026. Conservation Grazing Part 1: Introduction to Conservation Grazing for Western Washington Prairies. WSU Extension Publication FS409E. Washington State University.
• Craine, E.B., S.G. Bramwell, C.F. Ross, and K.M Murphy. 2022. From Ground to Glass: Evaluation of Unique Barley Varieties for Craft Malting, Craft Brewing, and Consumer Sensory (pdf). Beverages.
• Sitaker, M. and S.G. Bramwell. 2024. Food Hub Adaptation: A Case Study of Local Inland Northwest Cooperative Foods. WSU Extension Publication TB102E. Washington State University.
• Sitaker, M. and S.G. Bramwell. 2022. Food Hub Growth; A Case Study of the Puget Sound Food Hub (pdf) Washington State University Extension Publication (accepted). Washington State University.
• Bramwell, S.B., and M. Sitaker. 2022. Food Hub Establishment: A Case Study of the Southwest Washington Food Hub (pdf) Washington State University Extension Publication TB89E. Washington State University.
• Craine, E.B., S.G. Bramwell, C.F. Ross, S. Fisk, and K.M. Murphy. 2021. Strategic Malting Barley Improvement for Craft Brewers via Consumer Sensory Evaluation of Malt and Beer. Journal of Food Science 1-17.
• Brouwer, B.O., B.R. Diehl, T.R. Alexander, S.B. Bramwell, and B.S. Gerdeman. 2021. Biology and Management of Wireworms in Western Washington (pdf) Washington State University Extension Publication FS364E. Washington State University.
• Bramwell, S.G., B.O. Brouwer, C. Mundt, A. Hulting, P. Hayes, K. Murphy, B. Meints, A. MacLeod, D. Carrijo, S. Fisk, B. Verhoeven, and C. Waite. 2021. Growing Winter Malting Barley West of the Cascades (pdf) Washington State University Extension Publication F356E. Washington State University.
• Bramwell, S.G., D.P. Collins, and A. Bary. 2020. Utilizing Buckwheat and Sudangrass Cover Crops as Feedstock in Aerated Static Compost Piles (pdf) Washington State University Extension Publication TB71E. Washington State University.
• Bramwell, S.G. 2019. Market Assessment for Value-Added Vegetable and Fruit Sales at a Farmers’ Market. Journal of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents 12
• Bramwell, S.G. 2019. Go Among the People: Travel as Nontraditional Professional Development (pdf). Journal of Extension 57
• Bramwell, S.G. 2018. Effectiveness of On-Farm Classes for Addressing Farmer Training and Farmer Networking Needs. Journal of the National Association of County Agricultural Agents 11
• Bramwell, S.G. and B.O. Brouwer. 2018. Field Equipment for Grain Production on Modest Acreages and Diversified Farm Operations (pdf) Washington State University Extension Publication EM116E. Washington State University.

Books

• Bramwell, S.G., M. Rosemeyer, and M. Barker. 2011. Interdisciplinary Studies in Sustainable Agriculture. p. 89-108. In: Sayre et. al. (ed.) Fields of Learning: The Student Farm Movement in North America. University of Kentucky Press. Lexington, KY

Honors, Awards, & Service

• Selection Committee Member, WSU Sahlin Faculty Excellence Awards. 2022-present
• Achievement Award, National Association of County Agricultural Agents 2019
• Recognized in Capital Press, Western Innovator: Seeking New Markets for Farmers 2019
• National Finalist, Poster in Applied Research, National Association of County Agricultural Agents, 2019
• State Winner, Poster in Applied Research, National Association of County Agricultural Agents, 2019
• State Winner, Individual Newsletter Communications Award, Washington Extension Agents and Specialists Association, 2018
• Graduate Research Fellow, The Land Institute, Salina, Kansas, 2007-2008

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~When life itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies? Perhaps to be too practical is madness. To surrender dreams–this may be madness–and maddest of all: to see life as it is, and not as it should be. -Cervantes

Creative Works

• Bramwell, S.G. 2017-2026. Ag Sounder. Monthly agriculture newsletter for South Puget Sound.
• Bramwell, S.G. 2019. Getting to Know Farming, and Farmers, in Thurston County (pdf) The Olympian.
• Bramwell, S.G. 2019. Buying Local Trend Isn’t Translating into Farm Industry Success in Thurston County (pdf) The Olympian.
• Bramwell, S.G. 2019. Farming’s fate in Thurston County Hinges on Transitioning to Value-Added Agriculture (pdf)The Olympian.
• Bramwell, S.G. 2019. Opportunity Abounds for Investment in Thurston County Agriculture (pdf) The Olympian.
• Bramwell, S.G. 2019. The Importance of Farming Goes Beyond Food (pdf) The Olympian.
• Bramwell, S.G. 2014. The Evolution of Institutional Organic Farming Education in Washington State (pdf) Washington Tilth Producers Quarterly.
• Bramwell, S.G. 2009. A Rowdy Year in Agriculture PCC Sound Consumer.
• Bramwell, S.G. 2008. Washington Agriculture in a Changing Climate. PCC Sound Consumer.
• Bramwell, S.G. 2006. A New Generation of Farmers. PCC Sound Consumer.
• Prime, K.K, and S.G. Bramwell. 2005. Real Food on the Farm; a Workshop Presenting Nutritionally Vital Foods That Promote Health and Healing (pdf) Biodynamic Journal.