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.
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.
“When I really just won something, I was like, ‘Wow. I’m gonna keep going so I can try and win state one day,’” he said.
His mom, Kari Lamkin, says the animals have helped him stay grounded through surgeries and treatment.
“His bond now that he has with his show goats and his show pigs has really been awesome and has helped him a lot through his journey,” she said.
Ledger has undergone several procedures, including recent spinal surgery. He admits the process hasn’t been easy.
“I’m not gonna lie, I was scared. Terrified,” he said.
Doctors recently advised him to stay home unless absolutely necessary, but Ledger wasn’t willing to miss the fair.
“I had to sweet-talk the doctor just so I could get here,” he joked.
Through every surgery, one item always goes with him, a stuffed lion his mom gave him before a procedure.
“She told me, this lion represents your bravery and how strong you are by going through all this,” he said.
Kari says watching him push through pain and still succeed in the ring has been nothing short of remarkable.
“If you would have told me that Ledger would have won his class here, being in the top five after six months after having a spinal surgery, I would have told you no way,” she said. “I don’t think any parent could be any prouder of their kid.”
Ledger will show livestock throughout the week at the Arkansas State Fair. Despite the challenges ahead, he says he plans to keep fighting — and keep showing.