A newborn lamb rejected by his mother has found an unlikely family at a New South Wales school, where students and teachers at Uralla Central School on the Northern Tablelands have stepped in to hand-raise the little animal they have named Sam.
Sam was born on a Sunday at the school's agricultural farm, but his mother chose to focus her attention on his twin, leaving the tiny lamb alone in the paddock. Staff discovered him abandoned and quickly brought him inside, giving him a second chance at life in the most unexpected of classrooms.
From the paddock to the classroom: Sam's story
Teacher Jessica Burton described the moment she found Sam on his own as a worrying sight. "It was really sad, he was wailing about a bit," she said. "I was a bit worried, there was a mum who just forgot he had existed."
Rather than simply returning the lamb to the farm, staff made the decision to bring Sam into the school environment to be cared for by teachers and students alike. He is now being fed on formula and receives plenty of hands-on attention from his new extended family, with students from kindergarten all the way through to Year 12 taking an active role in his care.
Sam has already developed a reputation for his easygoing temperament. "He's just really relaxed all the time," one student said. Another described him as a natural companion: "He's a great little lamb, he follows you around and just wants to be there with you."
In a detail that might remind some of the old nursery rhyme, Sam has indeed become a devoted follower, trailing his carers around and even curling up to sleep on students' laps during class.
Sam's impact on students and learning
Agriculture teacher Louise Upjohn said Sam's presence in the school goes well beyond a novelty. "I think the context of Sam makes him special, he can be utilised on so many levels, whether it's a kid having a hard time and just needs some quiet time," she said.
Burton echoed that sentiment, noting the surprisingly calming effect Sam has had across the school. "Just seeing the kids so calm knowing there is a baby around surprised me really," she said. "They have all been really excited but also really respectful."
While the school already runs a flock of more than 18 ewes as part of its program to teach students about the wool industry, bringing Sam into the classroom has added a deeper, more personal dimension to agriculture education. Students who might otherwise engage with livestock at arm's length are now bottle-feeding a lamb and watching him grow day by day.
Principal Brad Hunt said Sam's fame has spread quickly through the school community. "Little Sam the lamb is very, very popular, very, very famous, very, very liked at this point in time," he said.
The experience is also giving students of all year levels a hands-on understanding of animal welfare and farm management that goes beyond any textbook lesson.
What's next for Sam
Sam's time as a full-time classroom companion will not last indefinitely. As he grows and requires fewer feeds, the plan is to gradually reintroduce him to the rest of the school's farm flock.
"When he requires less feeds what I am hoping to do is reintroduce him back over to the rest of the flock and go back in that program where we will be preparing those lambs for comps next year," Upjohn said.
For now, though, Sam is very much at home among his classmates, offering a warm, woolly reminder that sometimes the most valuable lessons at school come on four legs.
