Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig awarded Quick Oil Co. with this year’s Biodiesel Marketing Award and Casey’s General Stores with the Ethanol Marketing Award. The awards, created 11 years ago by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship in partnership with the Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores of Iowa (now FUELIowa) to recognize notable efforts by fuel marketers to promote and sell renewable fuels, were presented to the honorees at FUELIowa’s annual meeting in Des Moines Jan. 15.

“Casey’s and Quick Oil Co. have shown great leadership and commitment to marketing our homegrown renewable fuels,” Naig said. “I am very proud to recognize the investment they have made to not only our renewable fuels industry, but the environment and Iowa economy as well.”

Rod Gittins has owned and operated Perry, Iowa-based Quick Oil for more than 30 years. The company has 11 employees and operates two tank wagons and three bulk fueling plants serving a customer base of farmers, contractors and other end-users. According to the state ag department, Gittins has partnered with industry experts to host biodiesel educational sessions for his customers to address any questions they have about the product and to share the benefits of biodiesel. “The results speak for themselves,” the department stated.

“Quick Oil Co. is a great customer-focused success story,” said Dawn Carlson, president and CEO of FUELIowa. “Rod Gittins left the family farming business 30 years ago and purchased Quick Oil. Today, Mr. Gittins’ fuel marketing business allows him to provide his farm customers fuel products that are essential to their business success. Farming is in Mr. Gittins’ blood and his passion for agriculture has created a natural belief in the sale and marketing of biodiesel. He understands the benefits that biodiesel provides his customers, as well as Iowa’s economy.”

Gittins was nominated for the award by FUELIowa.

Casey’s won this year’s ethanol award for its commitment to sell E15 at more than 500 of its stores over the next four years. Furthermore, Casey’s has participated in the Pink at the Pump campaign for the past two years. Pink at the Pump is a breast cancer awareness campaign where E15 retailers across Iowa contribute 3 cents to breast cancer research for every gallon of E15 sold during Breast Cancer Awareness month in October. The campaign is co-sponsored by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. Nathaniel Doddridge, Casey’s director of fuels, was nominated for the award by IRFA and ICPB.

“Fuel marketers allow consumers to access ethanol and biodiesel blends produced right here in Iowa,” Naig said. “Our state is a national leader in renewable fuels production, and we are very fortunate that many retailers are making significant investments to provide their customers with increased access to renewable fuels.”