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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">UNITED STATES</div>
  
  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</div>
  
  <div style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Washington, DC 20549</div>
  
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">FORM 8-K</div>
  
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO <font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif"><br>
  </font>SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE <font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif"><br>
  </font> SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</div>
  
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)<font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> March 27, 2017</font></div>
  
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Lakeland Financial Corporation</div>
  
  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: center">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</div>
  
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Indiana</div>
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">000-11487</div>
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">35-1559596</div>
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: center">(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)</div>
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">202 East Center Street</div>
  
  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Warsaw, Indiana&#160; 46581-1387</div>
  
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">(574) 267-6144</div>
  
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">N/A</div>
  
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  </font><font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="FONT-SIZE: 1px; WIDTH: 31.5pt; DISPLAY: inline-block">&#160;</font>Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (<font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-STYLE: italic">see</font> General Instruction A.2 below):</div>
  
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;[&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; ]&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)&#160;</div>
  
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  <td style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; WIDTH: 72pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; align: right">Item 5.02.</td>
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.</div>
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  <div style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt">On March 27, 2017, Lakeland Financial Corporation (the "Company") and Lake City Bank, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary (the "Bank"), announced that Sarah J. Earls has been appointed as the Company's Senior Vice President and Controller, and will serve as the Company's principal accounting officer.</div>
  
  <div style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt">Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Earls, age 34, served as Director of Finance and Compliance at Micropulse Inc., a privately held medical device manufacturer based in Indiana, since April 2015, as the Controller of Three Rivers Federal Credit Union from February 2014 to March 2015, as Vice President and Controller of Tower Financial Corporation, which was a publicly traded bank holding company based in Indiana, from March 2007 to February 2014, and as an auditor with BKD, LLP from August 2003 to March 2007, where she worked on audits of financial institutions.&#160; Ms. Earls is a certified public accountant.</div>
  
  <div style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt">In connection with Ms. Earls' appointment, Teresa A. Bartman resigned from her position as the Company's principal accounting officer on March 27, 2017 to assume a new role in the Company's risk management department.</div>
  
  <div style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Item 7.01.</font><font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="FONT-SIZE: 1px; WIDTH: 72pt; DISPLAY: inline-block">&#160;</font><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Regulation FD Disclosure.</font></div>
  
  <div style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt">On March 27, 2017, the Company and the Bank issued a press release announcing Ms. Earls' appointment.&#160; A copy of the press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.</div>
  
  <div style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Item 9.01.</font><font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="FONT-SIZE: 1px; WIDTH: 72pt; DISPLAY: inline-block">&#160;</font><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Financial Statements and Exhibits.</font></div>
  
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif">Press Release issued by Lakeland Financial Corporation and Lake City Bank on March 27, 2017.</div>
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</div>
  
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  <td style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; WIDTH: 252pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; align: right">Dated:&#160; March 27, 2017</td>
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif">By:&#160; <font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif"><u>/s/Lisa M. O'Neill</u></font></div>
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-LEFT: 238.5pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Lisa M. O'Neill</div>
  
  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN-LEFT: 238.5pt">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer</div>
  
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Description</div>
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Press Release issued by Lakeland Financial Corporation and Lake City Bank on March 27, 2017.</div>
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP", "cik": "0000721994", "assigned-sic": "6022", "irs-number": "351559596", "state-of-incorporation": "IN", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-11487", "film-number": "17714454"}, "business-address": {"street1": "202 E CENTER ST", "street2": "P O BOX 1387", "city": "WARSAW", "state": "IN", "zip": "46581-1387", "phone": "5742676144"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "202 E CENTER ST", "street2": "PO BOX 1387", "city": "WARSAW", "state": "IN", "zip": "46581"}}
text: UNITED STATES
  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  Washington, DC 20549
  FORM 8-K
  CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO
  SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
  SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
  Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
  March 27, 2017
  Lakeland Financial Corporation
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  Indiana
  000-11487
  35-1559596
  (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)
  (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  202 East Center Street
  Warsaw, Indiana  46581-1387
  (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
  (574) 267-6144
  (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  N/A
  (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (
  see
  General Instruction A.2 below):
  [      ]     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
  [      ]      Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
  [      ]      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
  Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
  [      ]       Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
  Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
  Item 5.02.
  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
  On March 27, 2017, Lakeland Financial Corporation (the "Company") and Lake City Bank, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary (the "Bank"), announced that Sarah J. Earls has been appointed as the Company's Senior Vice President and Controller, and will serve as the Company's principal accounting officer.
  Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Earls, age 34, served as Director of Finance and Compliance at Micropulse Inc., a privately held medical device manufacturer based in Indiana, since April 2015, as the Controller of Three Rivers Federal Credit Union from February 2014 to March 2015, as Vice President and Controller of Tower Financial Corporation, which was a publicly traded bank holding company based in Indiana, from March 2007 to February 2014, and as an auditor with BKD, LLP from August 2003 to March 2007, where she worked on audits of financial institutions.  Ms. Earls is a certified public accountant.
  In connection with Ms. Earls' appointment, Teresa A. Bartman resigned from her position as the Company's principal accounting officer on March 27, 2017 to assume a new role in the Company's risk management department.
  Item 7.01.
  Regulation FD Disclosure.
  On March 27, 2017, the Company and the Bank issued a press release announcing Ms. Earls' appointment.  A copy of the press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.
  Item 9.01.
  Financial Statements and Exhibits.
  (d)
  Exhibits
  .
  99.1
  Press Release issued by Lakeland Financial Corporation and Lake City Bank on March 27, 2017.
  SIGNATURES
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION
  Dated:  March 27, 2017
  By:
  /s/Lisa M. O'Neill
  Lisa M. O'Neill
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  EXHIBIT INDEX
  Exhibit No.
  Description
  99.1
  Press Release issued by Lakeland Financial Corporation and Lake City Bank on March 27, 2017.