United States Department 

--

of Agriculture 

Food Safety and 

Inspection Service 

Office of Field 

Operations 

Atlanta District Office 

100 Alabama St., SW. 

Suite 3R90 

Atlanta, GA. 30303 

Phone: 404-562-5900 

Fax: 404-562-5877 

Toll Free: 

800-282-7005 

CERTIFIED MAIL 

September 29, 2023 

Circle F Farms Meat Processing 

M1155 

324 Azalea Road 

Baxley, GA 31513 

folsomw@woodyfolsom.com 

(912) 218-0042 

NOTICE OF SUSPENSION HELD IN ABEYANCE 

Dear Mr. Woody Folsom: 

On September 26, 2023, the Food Safety, and Inspection Service (FSIS) 

issued a Notice of Reinstatement of Suspension (NOROS) withholding the 

marks of inspection and suspending the assignment of slaughter inspection 

program personnel for livestock slaughter at Circle F Farms Meat 

Processing, Est. M1155 located at 324 Azalea Road, Baxley, GA 31513. 

This action was based on your establishment’s failure to handle livestock 

humanely according to 9 CFR Part 313. 

On September 26, 2023, you submitted written corrective actions and 

preventive measures to meet the requirements of the Humane Methods of 

Slaughter Act. As part of your assessment: you cut the head of the cow in 

half and determined that the first two shots were improperly placed below the 

brain. Your corrective actions and preventive measures included: retraining 

plant employees regarding proper shot placement using the cut cow head as a 

specific example for the location of the brain, where the shots actually went 

and where the shots should have been placed; retraining plant employees 

using diagrams and written descriptions regarding proper shot placement 

from the Humane Slaughter Association; a copy of a record documenting 

employee retraining was provided; a .22 magnum rifle will be used you’re 

your primary stunning device and a 9mm pistol

(b) (6)

 will be available on the 

slaughter floor as a backup stunning device; will be 

responsible stunning livestock; you will monitor and document monitoring of 

stunning effectiveness for all livestock slaughtered; a copy of the record that 

will used to document monitoring of stunning effectiveness was provided; 

and you will purchase a gun cleaning kit and clean each firearm used after 

each kill day to ensure the firearms are in good working condition. 

1 
 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Woody Folsom, Owner Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance 

Circle F Farms Meat Processing, M1155 September 29, 2023 

On September 26, 2023, FSIS determined that the proffered corrective actions and 

preventive measures submitted were not adequate to properly address the inhumane 

handling incident and clarification was requested. Specifically, FSIS requested: 

documentation supporting that a firearm cleaning kit had been purchased; a copy of the 

record that would be used to document cleaning of firearms; and a copy of the record 

documenting that the firearms had been cleaned. 

On September 27, 2023, you submitted your second response to provide clarification to 

your proffered corrective actions. Your response included: a copy of the receipt from 

buying a firearm cleaning kit; a picture of the firearm cleaning kit; copy of the record that 

will be used to document firearm cleaning; and a copy of the record documenting that the 

firearms had been cleaned. 

On September 27, 2023, you were verbally notified by FSIS that the corrective actions 

and preventive measures met the requirements to place Circle F Farms Meat Processing, 

Est. M1155, in Abeyance and that a Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance (NOSHA) 

and Verification Plan (VP) would be issued. You are hereby being provided written 

notification of the Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance. 

Please be further advised that the suspension of inspection at your establishment will 

remain in abeyance pending verification by FSIS that your proposed corrective actions 

and preventive measures have been implemented and are effective in ensuring future 

regulatory compliance and preventing the inhumane treatment of animals. Agency 

personnel will begin immediate verification of your corrective actions and preventive 

measures. 

A copy of the FSIS Verification Plan is attached to assist you in understanding the nature 

and importance of the agency’s verification activities. The FSIS Verification Plan is 

designed to verify that your establishment fully implements the revisions to its humane 

handling of animals and other corrective actions stated in your responses, and that these 

revisions and corrective actions are effective in ensuring future regulatory compliance. 

The FSIS Verification Plan identifies your proposed corrective actions, the regulatory 

requirement(s), and the PHIS Task under which FSIS officials will verify the 

implementation and effectiveness of your proposed action plan. 

Please be reminded that as a federally inspected establishment, you are expected to 

comply with FSIS regulations and to take appropriate actions to prevent the inhumane 

handling of animals. It is important for you to understand that FSIS has the 

responsibility to initiate action if your establishment fails to operate in accordance with 

the regulations, or conditions occur that do not comply with the Humane Methods of 

Slaughter Act. Please be advised that failure to comply with these regulatory 

requirements or failure to effectively implement your proposed corrective actions and 

preventive measures could result in the immediate suspension of inspection at your 

establishment or other appropriate action. 

2 
Mr. Woody Folsom, Owner Notice ofSuspension Held in Abeyance 

Circle F Fanns Meat Processing, Ml155 September 29, 2023 

Ifyou have any questions, please contact the Atlanta District Office at 404-562-5900. 

Sincerely, 

Digitally signed PHYLLIS by PHYLLIS 

ADAMS ADAMS oa1e: 20n.09.29 17:50:09 -O'IW 

Dr. Phyllis Adams 

Disti·ict Manager 

3 
Mr. Woody Folsom, Owner Notice of Suspension Held in Abeyance 

Circle F Fanns Meat Processing, Ml155 September 29, 2023 

cc: Karen Hunter, EARO 

Ph His Adams DM 

, Humane Handling Enforcement Coordinator 

Lany Hoite1i, OIEA Regional Director 

Edward Hepburn, DDM 

Barney Welch, DDM 

Trac B1 ant DDM 

, SEIAO 

DCS 

, DVMS 

TA Coordinator, GDA 

, IIC/GDA 

FO/Qua1ierly Repo1is 

4