CAM facts: Things you never knew about CSU's real-life ram

• See CAM at Ag Day
• When: Saturday (BBQ starts at 11 a.m., kickoff for the home opener football game is 2 p.m.)
• Where: Hughes Stadium

There he was.

My Li'l Sebastian.

I'd never met CAM the Ram before late Thursday morning, when our photographer Morgan and I trekked to his residence on a southwest Fort Collins farm.

When we arrived, he was being sheared, cleaned up for his visitors.

Rambouillet sheep, CAM's breed, aren't usually this docile, one of his caretakers told me.

But there he was, a cool little cucumber on the edge of a new school year — a new year of running the field at CSU football games, making appearances at campus events, wardrobe changes, trips in his trailer.

I was never huge on the whole school spirit thing when I was a student at CSU. When the other freshmen gathered in Corbett Hall's courtyard to go off and repaint the "A," my roommate and I drowned out the sound of their screaming chants with the television.

But, all that aside, I've loved CAM since the second I stepped on campus.

Even now, three years after graduating, I got giddy when I saw him on the stage at RamFest, CSU's annual fall concert, last weekend.

It felt like I was in a scene in Parks and Recreation, when the town's beloved mini horse Lil' Sebastian appears and everyone flips out.

But on Thursday I met him in a far more intimate setting.

It felt like I was interviewing Oprah at her house or something. Should I treat this like a celebrity profile in a fashion magazine? I asked myself. Maybe mention what he was wearing, what he was eating, that everything he did seemed effortless, that he seemed normal because he's just like us, guys.

It was a lot simpler than that, though.

"He eats, poops. Eats some more, poops some more," one his caretakers said.

Ugh, he's perfect.

The tough questions with CAM the Ram

How old is he?

Six

Does he have any kids?

CAM fathered five lambs earlier this year: CAM Jr., Camilla, Aggie, Moby and Lory. CAM Jr. lives on the same farm as his father and is next in line to take over the family business as CSU's mascot.

What are his favorite foods?

Rams like salty food and CAM's all-time favorite snack is nacho cheese Doritos. "He hears the chip bag and comes running," one of his ram handlers said.

Anything he doesn't he like?

Dogs and wheelchairs.

Who are CAM's handlers?

The Ram Handlers are a team of 15 student volunteers who are responsible for his daily care, training him and preparing him for public appearances. The handlers come from various colleges — not just agricultural sciences — at CSU.

What's in his closet?

CAM has a variety of different blankets, which he wears based on the season and what event he's at. He has an orange "Aggies" blanket for orange-out football games and a special veterinary school blanket that says "Dr. CAM" on it.

Does he get summers off?

Basically. With the drop off in appearance requests in the summer — and some Ram Handlers off for the break — CAM gets to just hang on the farm most days.

Does he have any other animal friends?

Beside having his son CAM Jr. in a nearby stall, CAM also lives among other farm animals, including horses, chickens, a calf, a pig and a sheep named Buddy.

What's the history behind CAM?

In 1945, back when CSU was still Colorado Agricultural College, the student body voted to call themselves the Rams, according to a report in CSU's Source. The first ram mascot was named Buck. He made his debut at a basketball game in January 1946. CAM, which stands for Colorado A&M, got his name in 1954.

According to Kraig Peel, a professor in CSU's animal sciences department, you can find old photos of CAM's early days when students would just pick a sheep out of a pasture on their way to the games. Today, it's a whole process to get him clean, sheared and prepped for public appearances.

How many CAMs have there been?

CAM is CSU's 24th Rambouillet sheep to serve as the mascot, according to Source.

But what's he like?

Very chill. As prey animals, sheep usually run from people. But, because of training from the handlers, CAM is very docile and calm around most people.