UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                 Washington, D.C.

                                 SCHEDULE 13G

                   Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                               (Amendment No__)





                                SIERRA BANCORP
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               (Name of Issuer)


                                 Common Stock
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        (Title of Class of Securities)



                                   82620P102
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (CUSIP Number)



                                    8/09/01
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)


Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:

     [ ] Rule 13d-1(b)
     [ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
     [x] Rule 13d-1(d)


*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for  a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).



  CUSIP NO. 82620P102                                      PAGE 2 OF 4 PAGES
-----------------------                                  ---------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
 1    I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY).

      Gregory A. Childress

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
 2                                                              (a) [_]
                                                                (b) [_]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      SEC USE ONLY
 3


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 4
      U.S.A.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          SOLE VOTING POWER
                     5
     NUMBER OF            877,836

      SHARES       -----------------------------------------------------------
                          SHARED VOTING POWER
   BENEFICIALLY      6
                          717,712
     OWNED BY
                   -----------------------------------------------------------
       EACH               SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                     7
    REPORTING             877,836

      PERSON       -----------------------------------------------------------
                          SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
       WITH          8
                          717,712
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 9
      1,695,548
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
10    (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
                                                                    [_]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
11
      18.21%

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
12
      IN

------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                                                                     PAGE 3 OF 4
CUSIP No. 82620P102

Item 1:  (a)    Issuer:                          Sierra Bancorp
         (b)    Principal Executive Offices:     86 North Main Street,
                                                 Porterville, CA. 93257

Item 2:  (a)    Person Filing:            Gregory A. Childress
         (b)    Address:                  12012 Road 200, Porterville, CA  93257
         (c)    Citizen of the U.S.A.
         (d)    Class of Securities:      Common Stock, no par value
         (e)    Cusip #82620P102

Item 3:  N/A

Item 4:  (a)    Total Shares Beneficially Owned:       1,695,548
         (b)    Percentage of Ownership:               18.21%
         (c)(i) Shares with Sole Voting Power:         877,836 (includes 100,000
                                                       vested option shares)

           (ii) Shares with Shared Voting Power: 717,712 (includes 5,280 shares
                   and 34,440 shares owned by the Childress, Bates, Childress,
                   Inc. Defined Pension Plan of which Mr. Childress is a trustee
                   and a beneficiary and 677,992 shares owned by CPG Ranch, a
                   partnership of which Mr. Childress is a partner)
          (iii) Shares with Sole Investment Power:  Same shares as Item i above

           (iv) Shares with Shared Investment Power: Same shares as Item ii
                   above

Item 5:  N/A
Item 6:  N/A
Item 7:  N/A
Item 8:  N/A
Item 9:  N/A

Item 10:   By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not  held for
the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the
issuer of such securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection
with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.


                                                                     PAGE 4 OF 4

                                   Signature

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify
that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

                              February 11, 2002
                              -------------------------------
                                       Date

                              /s/Gregory A. Childress
                              -------------------------------
                                       Signature

                              Gregory A. Childress, Director
                              -------------------------------
                              Name/Title