1. Department of Plant and Earth Science • College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
Recipient of the UW Regents Teaching Excellence Award
Phone: (715) 425-3345 • Fax: (715) 425-3785 • pes@uwrf.edu
November 27, 2014
To: Whom It May Concern
From: William A. Anderson, Professor Emeritus, Crop and Soil Science Program;
Fellow, American Society of Agronomy; Advisor, UWRF Crops and Soils Club; and Coach,
UWRF National Crops and Soils Judging Teams
Re: Mr. Clemen de Oliveira
It is my pleasure to provide a reference letter for this very capable individual, whom I have known for a little over one
year, most closely in relation to his activity with our local Crops and Soils Club (CSC) and its affiliated activities with
the Students of Agronomy, Soils and Environmental Sciences (SASES) subdivision of the American Society of
Agronomy. He has not only actively participated in these student organizations, but also has shown notable leadership
potential.
Clemen began attending CSC meetings during fall semester, 2013. I met him at those meetings, and found him to be a
very capable and likable individual. I encouraged him and his Brazilian cohorts to become active in the club and take
advantage of the many travel opportunities sponsored by the club. He signed up for a trip to a regional SASES
conference hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and participated in that event with fifteen other students,
seven of them Brazilian students.
Shortly after the conference, he met with me regarding setting up a research project, the results of which he hoped to
present as a research poster at the national SASES meetings in Long Beach, California, in November 2014. His
abstract was entitled, “Effects of variable compost rates on ever-bearing strawberry (Fragaria virginiana Duchesne)
biomass and economics in East Central Minnesota.” Unfortunately, the crop failed, and the results were not
forthcoming. I encouraged Clemen to prepare enter the SASES Visual Presentation Contest after withdrawing his
abstract from the research poster contest. He prepared a high quality, educational Power Point presentation,
entitled "Nematode Control in Field Corn (Zea mays L.) and Soybeans (Glycine max L.)"
During the spring and fall semesters at the University, Clemen provided needed assistance with the Club’s soil textural
class kit and sand size card fundraising projects; these projects supply the club with most of the funds for its various
activities (bringing in $5000+ annually). He also helped with the Club’s Pumpkin project (result → 1,650 pumpkins
harvested by the Club at the University lab farm, 1050 of which were sold to the Hudson, WI Chamber of Commerce
for its annual Fall Pumpkin Party at Camp St. Croix, which serves in excess of 1000 children in the area; the other 600
were donated to Food Pantry’s in River Falls, Prescott and Ellsworth, WI, as well as our local Habitat for Humanity).
Clemen not only provided valuable personal assistance, but encouraged other students at the University to help with
the planting, management and harvest.
Had Clemen been able to stay for an extra semester, I would have encouraged him to run for a club officer position. I
am certain that club members would have supported his candidacy due to his human relation and leadership skills,
energy, positive attitude and willingness to “go the extra mile.” His activities with the club equaled those in officer
positions during his stay, something that I as well as other club and faculty members appreciated very much.
I hope to revisit Brazil in the near future, and I will definitely contact Clemen to see if he will host a portion of my visit
in the Lugoa Quente area. If Clemen seeks a scholarship, a graduate assistantship, a fellowship, or recognition of any
kind, I am happy and honored to provide my personal support. He is an exceptional individual.
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN – RIVER FALLS
410 South Third Street • River Falls, WI • 54022-5001 • USA