Universal Lubricants Becomes a Proud Sponsor of the National FFA Organization

WICHITA, Kan., Nov. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Committed to fostering an understanding of — and appreciation for— sustainable practices among young people pursuing degrees in the science, business and art of agriculture management, Universal Lubricants announced today it will offer an inaugural $5,000 scholarship to one FFA member who demonstrates great commitment to championing the integration of environmental considerations in agricultural operations.

"The National FFA Organization was founded in 1928 — only one year before the establishment of Universal Lubricants — with a mission to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population. Today, that challenge is coupled with the need to grow more, while using less," said Rob Cooper, executive director of the National FFA Foundation. "As FFA continues to help the next generation of farmers rise to meet production and sustainability challenges, we hope the Universal Lubricants' sponsorship serves as a constant reminder that there's always an opportunity to reduce our environmental impact and become better stewards of the earth which gives us so much."

Using re-refined engine oils to operate farming equipment represents one simple, but powerful possibility to address the environmental concerns that are now garnering increased attention in mainstream agricultural circles. Each year, the U.S. produces about 1.3 billion gallons of used engine oils, only 10 percent of which is re-refined.  The rest is either disposed of improperly, which damages the environment, or is burned as an industrial fuel, which wastes limited petroleum reserves and perpetuates the need to import foreign oil.  Dedicated to reversing this trend, Universal Lubricants has differentiated itself as the only "closed-loop" domestic manufacturer of recycled oil. Universal Lubricants collects, re-refines, blends, packages and redistributes its own oil, the ECO ULTRA® line — without ever losing guardianship within the chain — in an infinitely repeatable, sustainable cycle.

"With new technologies, mechanization, specialization and government policies that favor maximizing production, agriculture has changed dramatically in the past quarter century alone. Certainly, such changes have had a net positive effect and reduced many of the risks involved with farming, but these same advancements have, in many cases, outpaced important environmental considerations," said John Wesley, chief executive officer of Universal Lubricants.

"Universal Lubricants is proud to support the work of the National FFA Organization at large and one scholarship recipient, in particular. By making agriculture more ecologically viable, together we can address many environmental and social concerns. Moreover, we can open the door to a host of innovative and economically practical opportunities for growers, laborers, consumers, policymakers and many others in the entire food system."

For more information about Universal Lubricant's ECO ULTRA® products, visit www.ecoultraoil.com.

About National FFA Organization

The National FFA Organization, formerly known as Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 540,379 student members as part of 7,489 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The National FFA Organization operates under a federal charter granted by the 81st United States Congress and it is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to state and local agricultural education programs. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online (http://www.FFA.org), on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/nationalFFA), on Twitter (http://twitter.com/nationalFFA) and FFA Nation (http://FFAnation.FFA.org).

About Universal Lubricants

Since its founding in 1929, Universal Lubricants has balanced tradition with innovation to emerge over the past four decades as the American leader in used oil collection, new oil refining and distribution. Unlike other companies that simply bottle re-refined oil, Universal Lubricants collects, refines, blends and re-distributes its own engine oil—never losing guardianship within the chain—to ensure that every quart, every gallon is of the highest quality for optimal performance. The only "closed-loop" provider of recycled motor oil, Universal Lubricants boasts a national presence, supplying ECO ULTRA® throughout the country by operating 28 facilities in 14 states, including one of the world's most technologically advanced re-refineries in Wichita, Kansas. Altogether, the company employs 380 American workers and is a Pegasus Capital Advisors portfolio company.

A leader in R&D and in the marketplace, Universal Lubricants will continue to drive progress and drive performance in the motor oil industry. For more information visit www.universallubes.com.

SOURCE Universal Lubricants