In celebrating 50 years of the Fiesta Stock Horse Show and Rodeo at Earl Warren Showgrounds, the Committee has decided to honor Si and Karen Jenkins. Si has been a driving force behind the Fiesta Stock Horse Show & Rodeo the entire 50 years at the Showgrounds and was a participant at Pershing Park downtown before this facility was built. In 1950, when the Fiesta Stock Horse Show was just a Saturday event, Si won a silver headstall in a seat and hands class at Pershing Park.

Si was born in 1933 here in Santa Barbara and went to Harding Elementary School, La Cumbre Junior High and graduated from Santa Barbara High in 1951. He rode horses and cleaned corrals at the Dick May Stables on West Victoria Street as a kid, participated in the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo in a trick roping act with Snooky Wiley and was instrumental in getting the Santa Barbara County Quarter Horse Association going in the 1960’s along with the Santa Barbara County Riding Club which started after World War II.

He has been involved with the Fiesta Stock Horse Show since the Pershing Park Days starting in the late 1940’s, and continued to support this major Fiesta event when the move was made in 1958 to the Showgrounds. Si and his son Josiah are still actively involved with the committee.

Having served over 18 years on the Earl Warren Showgrounds Board of the 19th District Agricultural Association having first been appointed by then Governor Ronald Reagan, Si has seen the Showgrounds mature over the last 50 years serving Santa Barbara with many great events.

Si began his career at Jedlicka’s in 1946 as a sweep out boy. He progressed up the chain of command to become manager in the 1960’s and owner in the 1970’s. When Si started at Jedlicka’s, it was just a small shoe repair shop at 2605 Hollister Avenue which was Highway 101. The Santa Barbara store is still at its same location, but the street name has changed to De La Vina. The Los Olivos Jedlicka’s was opened in 1977.

Karen was born Karen Ferguson in 1939 and lived a short time on the Ventura Ranch in Woodland, California until the Willett’s moved the family to their Ojai ranch near Rancho Arnez. She graduated from Nordoff High School in Ojai while enjoying life growing up on a cattle ranch. Karen knew the Dent Girl’s, Kay and Babe who lived on a neighboring ranch and many other colorful people in Ventura County’s past. As kids, she and her sister Beth Yanez would ride horses to Seaside Park, the Ventura County Fair Grounds and back. Si and Karen were married August 1961.

She has been involved in several riding organizations over the years including the Santa Barbara County Riding Club, Sage Hens and Fillies. She spends the majority of her time taking care of the family horses. They have provided mounts for a number of Fiesta El Presidente’s over the years and been very supportive of the local equestrian community.

We thank Si & Karen for their many years of support and dedication to the equestrian community and Earl Warren Showgrounds on its 50th anniversary.