<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001525216</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0000721994</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>000-11487</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>202 E CENTER ST</com:street1>
        <com:street2>P O BOX 1387</com:street2>
        <com:city>WARSAW</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>IN</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>46581-1387</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>5742676144</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Steiner Jonathan P</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Affiliate</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Charles Schwab Corp.</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>3000 Schwab Way</com:street1>
          <com:city>Westlake</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>76262</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>4814</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>355923.00</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>25506084</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>12/12/2024</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>Nasdaq</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>12/06/2024</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Grants</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>4814</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>12/06/2024</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Equity Compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>12/12/2024</noticeDate>
      <signature>Jonathan P Steiner</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
[{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2756}]
144
0001525216
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0000721994
LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP
000-11487
202 E CENTER ST
P O BOX 1387
WARSAW
IN
46581-1387
5742676144
Steiner Jonathan P
Affiliate
Common
Charles Schwab Corp.
3000 Schwab Way
Westlake
TX
76262
4814
355923.00
25506084
12/12/2024
Nasdaq
Common
12/06/2024
Stock Grants
Issuer
N
4814
12/06/2024
Equity Compensation
Y
12/12/2024
Jonathan P Steiner