News Release


             Release:Immediate                        Contact: Ronda J Williams
                                                               312-706-3232

                        Oil-Dri Announces Plan to Repurchase Stock

             CHICAGO--January 10, 2003 - Oil-Dri Corporation of America (NYSE:
             ODC) announced today that it intends to repurchase shares of its
             common stock under previous authorizations approved by its Board of
             Directors. Under these authorizations, there are 446,610 remaining
             shares. The company last repurchased shares under these
             authorizations in December 1999.

             Daniel S. Jaffee, President and Chief Executive Officer commented,
             "Market conditions and our strong cash position allow us to restart
             our share repurchases as a good investment in our future. We will
             make these purchases periodically, taking into account applicable
             regulations, market conditions and our future expansion
             opportunities."

                                            ###

             ===================================================================

             Oil-Dri Corporation of America is the world's largest manufacturer
             of cat litter and a leading supplier of specialty sorbent products
             for industrial, automotive, agricultural, horticultural and
             specialty markets.

             This release contains certain forward-looking statements regarding
             the company's expected performance for future periods, and actual
             results for such periods might materially differ. Such
             forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties which
             include, but are not limited to, competitive factors in the
             consumer market; the level of success in implementation of price
             increases and surcharges; changes in overall agricultural demand;
             changes in the market conditions, the overall economy, energy
             prices, and other factors detailed from time to time in the
             company's annual report and other reports filed with the Securities
             and Exchange Commission.