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OFF THE RECORD Jolie Vue By Maxine Goodman When Glen Boudreaux is not practicing commercial litigation on the 19th floor of a downtown Houston office building, you will probably find him in cowboy boots and blue jeans working the land at his farm in the gorgeous Texas Hill country. In 1989, Glen and Honi Boudreaux purchased Jolie Vue (“Fair View”), a farm in Washington County, near Brenham, Texas. They have been working the land ever since to rehabilitate the farm to its natural condition, creating a chemical-free oasis for the pigs and cattle grazing on the now-native grasses and rich soil. Glen, who since 1977 has enjoyed a successful career in commercial litigation, first as a founding member of a litigation boutique and now at Jackson Walker, explained that agriculture plays a prominent role in the Boudreaux’s history, as their family has been farming for generations. Glen and Honi were eager to follow their predecessors in both practice and guiding principles—Glen’s grandfather was a free-range, organic dairy and vegetable farmer. Now, after 20 years of rehabilitation and restoration, Jolie Vue is naturally-sustaining and free of chemicals where both the soil and 15 varieties of grasses have been restored to their native condition. Today, the farm raises cattle and pigs; all are free-range in that these creatures are not confined (the USDA defines free-range to mean the animal has some access to the outdoors). Glen and Honi take a much broader view. The pigs spend most of their time in the woods by the creek, enjoying eight sections (each of which is two acres) on which to roam. Each month, the pigs are rotated through to a different section. The cattle are contained by only the fencing that marks the property line; they spend almost all their time outdoors. The farm’s philosophies also include “seasonality,” which the farm describes as follows: Livestock was no different than vegetables among the farming and dining connoisseurs. Besides the freshness that is maintained by buying locally, the meats are better when finished in the moderate weather of spring and fall—avoiding the severe heat of summer and the dreary conditions of winter. So our creatures are finished on the sweet grasses and moderate temperatures of spring and fall. The grasses are sweeter, and the creature is stress-free. Our animals are fat and happy! Jolie Vue benefits not only the animals raised there and the people who enjoy the delicious meat, but also the environment. Glen describes the tremendous environmental impact as follows: “Our land, like most farms, has a water supply and that water source ultimately flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The absence of chemicals and pesticides on our land means this bad stuff does not flow from our land into the environment at large.” Glen’s passion for the health of animals, people, and the environment is incredibly far-reaching. When Glen is not farming or practicing law, he donates time to advancing healthy dietary habits for inner-city schoolchildren in Houston by serving on the board of Recipe For Success. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Houston Farmers Markets. Finally, in April, he will participate in his 11th consecutive MS 150 bike ride from Houston to Austin. Check out the team’s website at http://teamamy.org to learn Glen’s motto during the marathon bike ride! To see Glen and Honi at Jolie Vue visit the farm’s website at www.jolievuefarm.com. Maxine Goodman is an associate professor at South Texas College of Law. She also is a member of The Houston Lawyer editorial board.
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