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Certified Chemical Free PNS-001
Certification Information

Certified Chemical Free™

Community Based Certification
For Agricultural Products

Buffalo Valley, TN USA
Contact Us

Certified
Chemical
Free™

Chemical Free
No Synthetic Chemicals
or GMO

Community Based Certification
For Agricultural Products

Buffalo Valley, TN USA
Contact Us

Certified Chemical Free™

Community Based Certification
For Agricultural Products

1857 Brindley Hollow Rd. Buffalo Valley, TN USA
Contact Us

 

 

PNS-001

Self Certification Statement

Certified Chemical Free PNS-001
Certification Information

 

 

 

Owner Name: John M. Hurt
Farm Name: Pure Natural Sheep
Address: 1857 Brindley Hollow Rd.
City, State, Zip: Buffalo Valley, TN 38548
Date of Self Certification: 1/1/2026

I, __John M. Hurt___, hereby certify that the information provided below is accurate to the best of my knowledge.

 

 


John M. Hurt

 

 

 

Chemical Free Statement by John M. Hurt:

Since 2009, I have never used chemicals such as vaccines, dewormers, hormones, antibiotics or other non-organic man-made substances on my livestock.

Since the purchase of my farm in 2007, it has never been sprayed with chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, or fertilized with sewage sludge or bio solids.

Leased Hayfield #1 has not been sprayed with chemicals or fertilized with sewage sludge/bio solids since I acquired the lease in 2009.

Leased Hayfield #2 has not been sprayed with chemicals or fertilized with sewage sludge/bio solids since I acquired the lease in 2020.

 

 

 

 

Farm Map

 

 

 

 

Livestock Feed Status

Since 2024, I have stopped buying feed at the Farmer's Co-Op and have fed my livestock only Certified USDA Organic feed that has not been made with GMO (Genetically Modified Organism), mRNA (Messenger ribonucleic acid), or exposed to herbicides, pesticides and other chemicals.

 

 

 
Production Group:
Type of Feed or Supplement:
Amount Per Animal in lbs.
(Specify Unit of Time)
 

 
Sheep
KOFFI Organic Sheep Grain Mix 16%
Average 8 lbs. per year per sheep.
 

 

 

Supporting Documentation:

USDA Certified Organic Feed Purchase from KOFFI, Guthrie KY on April 4th, 2025:

Note: I am feeding less than 10 of the 50# bags of grain a year as an enticement to get the sheep into the barn. Otherwise the sheep are 100% grass fed.

All sheep are finished on grass, not grain.


Click to Enlarge

 

 
 

 

 

 
 

Note: All of my other inputs are the grass from my own pasture or the hay from two leased hay fields.
Since everything is from Nature, there are no other inputs to document.

 

 

Livestock Grazing and Living Conditions:

Since 2009, I have finished my livestock on grass and not on grain.

Since 2009, I have let my livestock graze on pasture and have never confined my animals in a drylot or CAFO (Confined Animal Feeding Operation).

Since 2024, my livestock have been over 99% grass fed, with less than 1% grain as an enticement to enter the barn for sorting purposes.

 

 
 

Shelter from Adverse Weather and Direct Sunlight, with Sufficient Bedding

Since 2009, I have always furnished shelter from adverse weather and direct sunlight.

The shelter has the sides open for fresh air and indirect natural sunlight.

The ground in the shelter is periodically covered with clean, dry hay for bedding. The hay has never been sprayed with chemicals, such as herbicides or pesticides.

When the shelter becomes full of old bedding, I can move the shelter to a new location and use the old location for gardening.

 


500 sf Geodesic Dome shelter.

 
 

No Confinement:

The sheep are not confined in the shelter except for sorting purposes. They have full access to the outdoors so they can freely range and exercise.

I do not use Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO), yards, feeding pads, or feed lots as the sheep are primarily grass fed.

I do not use hutches or lambing pens to confine the ewes with their lambs. The sheep are allowed full access to give birth outside or inside the barn.

 


Natural lambing on pasture without pens.

 

 

Pure Natural Water Status (No Chlorine or Fluoride):

Since 2009, I have provided naturally sourced drinking water to my livestock that does not contain chlorine or fluoride.

 
 

Natural Spring Water:

 
 

Natural Spring with Concrete Dam and Pipe.

Spring Water from Pipe for Sheep.
 
 

Pure Rain Water Collection:

 
 

Collecting Rainwater from the Roof.


Rainwater for Stock Tanks.

 
 

Rainwater Harvesting for St Croix Sheep – Pure Water for Pure Natural Sheep

 

 

 

Chemical Free Hay Status

Since 2009, I have fed my livestock chemical free hay that has not been sprayed with herbicides or pesticides or fertilized with sewage sludge or bio solids.

 
 
I have exclusive rights to grow hay on these two leased fields, and I have never used chemicals to produce hay.

 


Hayfield 1: 13.34 acres leased since 2009.


Hayfield 2: 17 acres leased since 2020.

 
 

Chemical Free Hay.

The Operator that I contract to bale my hay has new equipment and cleans the hay (but not the dust) out of the baler when he leaves each property. The rakes and cutters are not cleaned, but they are driven down the highway at 50 miles per hour to get to my farm, which blows out the dust particles.

If you are worried about hay dust from another field polluting the hay for an "organic" animal, but you are not worried about the USDA Certified Organic animals being legally injected with vaccines that contain mercury and carbolic acid, then you are crazy.

So I refuse to make the operator fill out some stupid affidavit that he "rinsed" his hay baler before baling my hay so I can be certified USDA Organic.

These rules by the USDA Organic Certification process are to harm the small farmer, and have nothing to do with chemical free hay.

 

 

 

How I Exceed the USDA Organic Livestock Certification Requirements:

Since 2009, with the exception of providing standard mineral supplements to livestock, I have not exposed my livestock to any of the chemicals listed as “allowed” by the USDA for Organic Livestock Production in Section 205.603, namely:

  • Alcohols
  • Ethanol
  • Isopropanol
  • Aspirin
  • Atropine
  • Biologics-Vaccines
  • Butorphanol
  • Activated charcoal
  • Calcium borogluconate
  • Calcium propionate
  • Chlorhexidine
  • Chlorine
  • Calcium hypochlorite
  • Chlorine dioxide
  • Hypochlorous acid
  • Sodium hypochlorite
  • Electrolytes with or without antibiotics
  • Flunixin
  • Glucose
  • Glycerin
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Iodine
  • Kaolin pectin
  • Magnesium hydroxide
  • Magnesium sulfate
  • Mineral Oil
  • Nutritive supplements
  • Oxytocin
  • Parasiticides
  • Fenbendazole
  • Moxidectin
  • Peroxyacetic/peracetic acid
  • Phosphoric acid
  • Poloxalene
  • Propylene glycol
  • Sodium Chlorite
  • Tolazoline
  • Xylazine
  • topical treatments of Copper Sulfate
  • Elemental sulfur
  • Formic Acid
  • Iodine
  • Lidocaine
  • Hydrated Lime,
  • Mineral Oil
  • Oxalic acide dihydrate
  • Sodium Chlorite acidified
  • Sucrose octanoate esters
  • Zinc Sulfate
  • feed additives such as DL-Methionine.

 

 

 

Statement On The Selection of Breeding Stock:

Since 2009, I have selected my breeding stock based on:

1. Good mothering instincts, by not using lambing pens and eliminating any ewes that do not bond with their young while raising them on pasture.
2. Good flocking instincts, by eliminating sheep that get out of fenced areas or do not stay with the flock.
3. Grass Fed Performance, by eliminating any sheep that cannot grow or thrive on a grass-only diet and would otherwise need grain to survive or put on weight.
4. Unassisted Lambing, by not helping with any sheep that has trouble lambing without assistance and by eliminating those that cannot lamb on their own.
5. Parasite Resistance, by eliminating all stock that needs deworming.
6. Hoof Rot Resistance, by eliminating all stock that has trouble with their hooves or need medication for hoof rot.

Since 2025, I have begun the selection of my breeding stock based on:

1. High Fecundity, by selecting the ewes that consistently produce 2 or more lambs per birth.

 

 

Statement On Crop Production:

Since 2009, I have met or exceeded the USDA National Organic Standards for crop production.

 

 

Statement On Open Inspection By the Public:

My farm is available for inspection of my certification claims by the public and by my customers during normal business hours.

 

 

 

Signature Certification:

I, John M. Hurt, do hereby certify that the information provided is accurate to the best of my knowledge.

Signature: John M Hurt

Date: 1/1/2026

 

 


John M. Hurt

 

 

 

Witness Certification:

Witness Name: Carolyn D. Hurt
Relationship: Wife
Address: 1857 Brindley Hollow Rd.
City, State, Zip: Buffalo Valley, TN 38548
Date of Witness Certification: 1/1/2026

I, Carolyn D. Hurt, do hereby certify that the information provided is accurate to the best of my knowledge.

 

 


Carolyn D. Hurt

 

 

 

Witness Certification:

Witness Name: Jacob G. Hurt
Relationship: Son
Address: 1857 Brindley Hollow Rd.
City, State, Zip: Buffalo Valley, TN 38548
Date of Witness Certification: 1/1/2026

I, Jacob G. Hurt, do hereby certify that the information provided is accurate to the best of my knowledge.

 

 


Jacob G. Hurt

 

 

 

Witness Certification:

Witness Name: Joseph B. Hurt
Relationship: Son
Address: 1857 Brindley Hollow Rd.
City, State, Zip: Buffalo Valley, TN 38548
Date of Witness Certification: 1/1/2026

I, Joseph B. Hurt, do hereby certify that the information provided is accurate to the best of my knowledge.

 

 


Joseph B. Hurt

 

 

 

Witness Certification:

Witness Name: J. Morgan Hurt
Relationship: Son
Address: Tom Fall Road
City, State, Zip: Baxter, TN
Date of Witness Certification: 1/1/2026

I, J. Morgan Hurt, do hereby certify that the information provided is accurate to the best of my knowledge.

 

 


J. Morgan Hurt