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Beyond Buddy: Me While you may most commonly recognize him during the holiday season as Salem’s Buddy the Elf, Corey Jenkins is more than that larger-than-life persona. As the Creative Services Supervisor at SAIF Corporation, he hosts the YouTube series Oregon Odd Jobs, showcasing uniquely Oregon jobs and how they’re done safely. When not in front of the camera, you may find him behind the microphone, singing children’s rock songs under the moniker Jenks Music. He’s genuinely outgoing, sincerely engaged and pretty darn humorous, too. But don’t just take our word for it - stop for a moment to hear it from the elf’s mouth, himself.
What is your favorite thing about Salem? I love the weather here. I was raised in a tiny town in northern Idaho and the winters there were pretty cold and snowy. I prefer the milder winter weather of Salem, and the rain doesn’t bug me too much. Oh, and I love how green Salem is! What is your favorite thing to do in Salem? My wife and I have five children, so we spend an awful lot of time at the many parks around Salem. We live near Wes Bennett Park, but any place that has swings is an instant hit with my kids. We play games like “Zombie Attack,” where I stumble around the park like a zombie, attacking the kids. No, it’s not complicated! Inevitably other kids want to join the fun, and onlooking parents stare at me like I’m a weirdo (I don’t deny it). 28 | pressplaysalem.com | winter 2023
