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      <div style="text-align: center; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">UNITED STATES</div>
      <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><font style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">Washington, DC 20549</font></div>
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      <div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 3pt;"><font style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">FORM 8-K</font></div>
      <div style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><br>
      </div>
      <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">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</font></div>
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      </div>
      <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)<font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight:
            bold;"> April 25, 2019</font></font></div>
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      </div>
      <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">Lakeland Financial Corporation</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></div>
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              <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">Indiana</font></div>
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              <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">000-11487</font></div>
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              <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">35-1559596</font></div>
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              <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)</font></div>
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            <td style="width: 33.34%; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">(Commission File Number)</font></div>
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            <td style="width: 33.32%; vertical-align: top;">
              <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">(IRS Employer Identification No.)</font></div>
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      <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">202 East Center Street</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">Warsaw, Indiana&#160; 46581-1387</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)</font></div>
      <div><br>
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      <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">(574) 267-6144</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)</font></div>
      <div><br>
      </div>
      <div style="text-align: center;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">N/A</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: center; margin-right: 4.3pt; margin-left: 4.3pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 31.5pt; margin-right: 4.5pt; margin-left: 4.5pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">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):</font></div>
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                <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
                  <div><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></div>
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                <td style="width: 18pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">[&#160; ]</font></td>
                <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
                  <div><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></div>
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                <td style="width: 18pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">[&#160; ]</font></td>
                <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: justify;">
                  <div><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange<font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><br>
                      </font>Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></div>
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      <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">[&#160; ]</font><font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px;
          width: 18pt">&#160;</font><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange<font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times,
            serif;"><br>
          </font><font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width: 54pt">&#160;</font>Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405
          under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.405) or Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.12b-2).</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Emerging growth company&#160; [&#160; ]</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the
          extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.&#160; [&#160; ]</font></div>
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      <div style="text-align: left;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">Item 2.02.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Results of Operations and Financial Condition</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: left;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">&#160;</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: left;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">On April 25, 2019, Lakeland Financial Corporation (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) issued a press release announcing its earnings for the three months ended
          March 31, 2019. The press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: left;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">&#160;</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: left;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">The disclosure in this Item 2.02 and the related exhibit under Item 9.01 are being furnished and shall not be deemed &#8220;filed&#8221; for the purposes of
          Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. The disclosure in this Item 2.02 and the related exhibit under Item 9.01 shall not be incorporated by reference into any
          registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: left;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">&#160;</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: left; margin-top: 12pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: left; margin-top: 8pt;">
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                <td style="width: 36pt; vertical-align: top; align: right;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">(d)</font></td>
                <td style="width: auto; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;">
                  <div><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Exhibits</font></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;">99.1&#160; Press Release dated April 25, 2019</font></div>
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      <div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 16pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">SIGNATURES</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 36pt; margin-top: 8pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">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.</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: center; margin-top: 16pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold;">LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION</font></div>
      <div style="margin-top: 16pt;"><br>
      </div>
      <div style="text-align: left; margin-top: 8pt;"><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Dated:&#160; April 25, 2019</font><font id="TRGRRTFtoHTMLTab" style="display: inline-block; text-indent: 0px; font-size: 1px; width:
          215.05pt">&#160;</font><font style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">By:&#160;&#160; /s/Lisa M. O&#8217;Neill</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 252pt; margin-top: 8pt;"><font 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; Lisa M. O&#8217;Neill</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 252pt;"><font 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; Executive Vice President</font></div>
      <div style="text-align: left; text-indent: 252pt;"><font 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; and Chief Financial Officer</font></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": "19765460"}, "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)
  April 25, 2019
  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))
  Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405
          under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.405) or Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.12b-2).
  Emerging growth company  [  ]
  If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the
          extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  [  ]
  Item 2.02.            Results of Operations and Financial Condition
  On April 25, 2019, Lakeland Financial Corporation (the "Company") issued a press release announcing its earnings for the three months ended
          March 31, 2019. The press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.
  The disclosure in this Item 2.02 and the related exhibit under Item 9.01 are being furnished and shall not be deemed "filed" for the purposes of
          Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. The disclosure in this Item 2.02 and the related exhibit under Item 9.01 shall not be incorporated by reference into any
          registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
  Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
  (d)
  Exhibits
  99.1  Press Release dated April 25, 2019
  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 25, 2019
  By:   /s/Lisa M. O'Neill
  Lisa M. O'Neill
  Executive Vice President
  and Chief Financial Officer