Justin Bajema
Justin enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2001, answering the call to serve his country. As an Infantryman, he completed two combat tours in Iraq in 2003 and 2004. During his second deployment, Justin was severely wounded in an ambush when an IED detonated directly beneath his vehicle.
He was awarded the Purple Heart by President George W. Bush for wounds received in action. Following eight surgeries and a challenging recovery, he was medically retired from the Marine Corps in 2005.
Since leaving the military, Justin has forged a dynamic and entrepreneurial path, building over 19 years of experience in creating and scaling businesses from the ground up. His journey has been defined by resilience, determination, and an unrelenting commitment to making an impact.
If you’d asked Justin in his younger years if farming was in his future, he’d have laughed. Yet today, you’ll rarely find him out of farm clothes and cowboy boots. His intensity and drive are unmistakable from the moment you meet him. Having faced life’s fragility head-on, Justin knows there’s no time to waste—the only way to make a difference is to take action.
Jenni Bajema
Jenni Bajema is the passionate co-founder and marketing powerhouse behind Rebel Pastures in Rockford, MI. Alongside her husband, Justin, she has built a farm dedicated to rebelling against Big Food, Big Ag, and Big Pharma while championing sustainable, ethical, and transparent farming practices.
Jenni brings grit, determination, and a deeply-rooted love for animals and family to every aspect of Rebel Pastures. Whether she’s behind the camera, sharing the farm’s story, or connecting with customers to spread the truth about food systems, Jenni’s commitment to honesty and authenticity drives the farm’s mission forward.
As an advocate for food and health literacy, she focuses on educating people about the manipulation of the “Bigs” and empowering them to make informed, independent choices. Jenni’s vision for Rebel Pastures extends far beyond farming; it’s about creating a movement toward a healthier, more sustainable food system for future generations.
When she’s not managing the farm or marketing, you’ll find Jenni horseback riding, weightlifting, or spending quality time with her husband and two daughters—raising them to be independent, responsible, and to always give a damn.
"Jules" Corr
Jules discovered her passion for regenerative agriculture after reading a book named Restoration Agriculture. Intrigued by the seemingly paradoxical pairing of "restoration" and "agriculture" in the title, she delved deeper into the concept. She was captivated by the idea that farming could simultaneously restore ecosystems, benefit people, and support animal well-being.
With a degree in Natural Resources Management from Grand Valley State University, Jules spent several years working as a gardener. Frustrated by conventional landscaping practices, she completed a permaculture design course and launched a landscaping business that focused on integrating edible and native plants into outdoor spaces. She discovered her true calling at Rebel Pastures: merging her plant expertise with Rebel’s mission to regenerate the land while raising animals with care, improving human health, and supporting the planet’s resilience.
At Rebel Pastures, Jules wears many hats. She oversees shipping and local order fulfillment, manages inventory operations, provides customer support, and tends to the farm animals. Outside of work, Jules loves spending time in nature, enjoying activities like gardening, hiking, and camping.
Lauren Earley
Lauren was first exposed to Rebel Pastures when she stumbled upon a social media post looking for Hen Caretakers. Knowing very little about egg-layers, Rebel Pastures saw passion, hard work, willingness to learn and gave Lauren the opportunity.
Hen Caretaker grew into weekend Farm Hand, tending to all the animals. Lauren's day job was in the corporate accounting world which led to conversations about how Rebel Pastures could use those skills. Farm Hand responsibilities grew into the Controller position where Lauren is bringing great value today.
Lauren's story is one of growth with Rebel Pastures not only growth in positions but growth in knowledge, awareness of regenerative farming, the food system, and deliciousness of grassfed beef. Lauren will be found behind the computer crunching the numbers, dabbling in some HR responsibilities, and coordinating various inventory projects on a monthly basis. In her free time, Lauren enjoys time spent in her flower garden, walks with her husband and dog, Derby, and testing out a new recipe.
Ted Trocke
Life has made a complete circle for Ted, being raised on an 80 acre farm with sheep, cattle, horses and chickens. As kids his siblings and him had a full time job taking care of the animals and going to school.
He always gravitated towards the mechanical part of the farm, working on the equipment and helping his dad build the house and outbuildings. After that he went to college to study Automotive technology. At age 20 he started his own business, an Amoco service station.
He was in the automotive repair business for 45 years and built his last business from the ground up and owned it for 27 years until he decided to retire and take it easy.
Well that didn’t last long, he worked part time for NAPA, after that he was the head of maintenance for a RV park in Ludington,and now is back on the farm with his neighbors at Rebel Pastures doing maintenance and repairs and enjoying the great people he works with and being around animals again.