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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">UNITED STATES</div>
  
  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</div>
  
  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</div>
  
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 12pt">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; MARGIN-TOP: 12pt">CURRENT REPORT</div>
  
  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 16pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif">Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) o</font>f <font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif">the</font></div>
  
  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Securities Exchange Act of 1934</div>
  
  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 10pt">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) April 12, 2017</div>
  
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 24pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman Bold', 'Times New Roman', serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 8pt">Lakeland Financial Corporation</div>
  
  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; 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">0-11487</div>
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Of incorporation)</div>
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Identification No.)</div>
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 12pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif">202 East Center Street, P.O. Box 1387, Warsaw, Indiana 46581-1387</font><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif"><br>
  </font> (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)</div>
  
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  </font> (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)</div>
  
  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 16pt">Not Applicable</div>
  
  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)</div>
  
  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN-TOP: 8pt">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:</div>
  
  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-TOP: 8pt; TEXT-INDENT: -36pt">[&#160; ]&#160; Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</div>
  
  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-TOP: 8pt; TEXT-INDENT: -36pt">[&#160; ]&#160; Solicitation material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</div>
  
  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-TOP: 8pt; TEXT-INDENT: -36pt">[&#160; ]&#160; Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR&#160; 240.14d-2(b)</div>
  
  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt; MARGIN-TOP: 8pt; TEXT-INDENT: -36pt">[&#160; ]&#160; Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)</div>
  
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  <div style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Item 7.01.&#160; &#160; Regulation FD Disclosure.</div>
  
  <div style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt">On April 12, 2017 Lakeland Financial Corporation issued a news release announcing that on April 11, 2017, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Lakeland Financial Corporation (the "Company") declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.22 per share of Company common stock for the first quarter of 2017, payable on May 5, 2017, to shareholders of record as of April 25, 2017.&#160; The news release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.</div>
  
  <div style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Item 9.01.&#160;&#160; Financial Statements and Exhibits.</div>
  
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-STYLE: italic">Exhibits</font>.&#160; The following exhibits are filed herewith:</div>
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif">Press Release issued by Lakeland Financial Corporation on April 12, 2017.</div>
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  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 16pt">SIGNATURES</div>
  
  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN-TOP: 8pt; 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>
  
  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-TOP: 16pt">LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION</div>
  
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  <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN-TOP: 8pt"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif">Dated:&#160; April 12, 2017</font><font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="FONT-SIZE: 1px; WIDTH: 215.05pt; DISPLAY: inline-block">&#160;</font><font style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif">By:&#160; /s/Lisa M. O'Neill</font></div>
  
  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN-TOP: 8pt; TEXT-INDENT: 252pt">&#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; Lisa M. O'Neill</div>
  
  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 252pt">&#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;Executive Vice President and</div>
  
  <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-INDENT: 252pt">&#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; Chief Financial Officer</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": "17757801"}, "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, D.C. 20549
  ______________
  FORM 8-K
  ______________
  CURRENT REPORT
  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) o
  f
  the
  Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) April 12, 2017
  ______________
  Lakeland Financial Corporation
  (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
  ______________
  Indiana
  0-11487
  35-1559596
  (State or other jurisdiction
  (Commission File Number)
  (IRS Employer
  Of incorporation)
  Identification No.)
  202 East Center Street, P.O. Box 1387, Warsaw, Indiana 46581-1387
  (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
  (574) 267-6144
  (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  Not Applicable
  (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:
  [  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
  [  ]  Solicitation 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 7.01.    Regulation FD Disclosure.
  On April 12, 2017 Lakeland Financial Corporation issued a news release announcing that on April 11, 2017, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Lakeland Financial Corporation (the "Company") declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.22 per share of Company common stock for the first quarter of 2017, payable on May 5, 2017, to shareholders of record as of April 25, 2017.  The news release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.
  Item 9.01.   Financial Statements and Exhibits.
  (d)
  Exhibits
  .  The following exhibits are filed herewith:
  99.1
  Press Release issued by Lakeland Financial Corporation on April 12, 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:  April 12, 2017
  By:  /s/Lisa M. O'Neill
  Lisa M. O'Neill
  Executive Vice President and
  Chief Financial Officer