Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
PLETCHER RICHARD L
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP [LKFN]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
1102 NORTHWOOD DR
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/29/2009
(Street)

NAPPANEE, IN 46550
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 01/29/2009   M   1,150 A $ 0 5,619.122 D  
Common Stock 01/29/2009   S   1,150 D $ 19.6809 4,469.122 D  
Common Stock               1,579.882 I By Spouse

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 9.7188 01/29/2009   M     1,150 02/09/2004 02/09/2009 Common Stock 1,150 $ 0 0 D  
Phantom Stock (1)               (3)   (2) Common Stock 25,119   25,119 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 7.5625             02/08/2005 02/08/2010 Common Stock 1,200   1,200 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 6.75             06/13/2005 06/13/2010 Common Stock 1,000   1,000 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 6.8125             01/09/2006 01/09/2011 Common Stock 2,000   2,000 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 17.185             12/09/2008 12/09/2013 Common Stock 1,000   1,000 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 24.05             12/07/2010 05/14/2018 Common Stock 1,000   1,000 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
PLETCHER RICHARD L
1102 NORTHWOOD DR
NAPPANEE, IN 46550
  X      

Signatures

 Teresa A. Bartman, Attorney-in-Fact   02/02/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Each phantom stock unit exersises into 1 share of Common Stock.
(2) Phantom shares expire after the directors' retirement as a Board member.
(3) Phantom stock is exercisable after the directors' retirement as a Board member.

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