CAMDEN, Ark. — At just 13 years old, Ledger Lamkin has already spent half a decade in the show ring. This week, the Camden native is back in Little Rock competing at the Arkansas State Fair, despite living with a terminal and extremely rare cancer.
Lamkin was diagnosed at age 8 with MEN2B, a spontaneous genetic mutation that affects multiple endocrine glands. The disease leads to tumors and other complications and, in his case, has developed into terminal thyroid cancer. Fewer than a handful of Arkansans are believed to have the condition.
Arkansas State Fair has big opening day
But the diagnosis hasn’t kept him out of the barn.
Lamkin started showing animals after watching his sisters compete and quickly found his passion. Over the years, he has picked up major wins, including Grand Champion Market Goat and first place in multiple classes at the Ouachita County Fair. Just this month, he placed second in his class at the Arkansas Youth Expo…