Sierra Bancorp

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock

(Title of Class of Securities)

82620P102

(Cusip Number)

12/31/02

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

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

o

 Rule 13d-1(b)

o

 Rule 13d-1(c)

x

 Rule 13d-1(d)

CUSIP No. 82620P102

1

NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

Robert L. Fields

2

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP *

(A)

o

(B)

o

3

SEC USE ONLY

4

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

U.S.A.

NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH

5

SOLE VOTING POWER

698,984

6

SHARED VOTING POWER

7

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

698,984

8

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

9

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

698,984

10

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES *

11

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

7.50%

12

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON *

IN

Item 1:

(a)

Issuer:

Sierra Bancorp

(b)

Principal Executive Offices:

86 North Main Street,

Porterville, CA. 93257

Item 2:

(a)

Person Filing:

Robert L. Fields

(b)

Address:

1276 Highland Drive, 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:

698,984

(b)

Percentage Ownership:

7.50%

(c)

(i)

Shares with Sole Voting Power:

698,984 (includes 100,000 vested option shares)

(ii)

Shares with Shared Voting Power:

None

(iii)

Shares with Sole Investment Power:

Same shares as Item i above

(iv)

Shares with Shared Investment Power:

None

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.

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.

3/10/03

Date

/s/ ROBERT L. FIELDS

Robert L. Fields