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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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * DEARDORFF KEVIN L   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP [LKFN] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Executive Vice President (Last) (First) (Middle) 3254 W. STATE RD 14 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 03/02/2012 (Street) SILVER LAKE, IN 46982 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 03/02/2012   P   380 A $ 24.3661 37,577 D   Common Stock 03/02/2012   M   1,292 A $ 0 38,869 D   Common Stock               0 I 401(k) Plan

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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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)

$ 17.185

03/02/2012

M

1,292

12/09/2008

12/09/2013

Common Stock

1,292

$ 0

0

D

Restricted Stock Units (3)

$ 0 (1)

02/01/2015

02/01/2015(2)

Common Stock

4,000

4,000

D

Restricted Stock Units (3)

$ 0 (1)

02/01/2013

02/01/2013(2)

Common Stock

3,000

3,000

D

Restricted Stock Units (3)

$ 0 (1)

02/01/2014

02/01/2014(2)

Common Stock

4,000

4,000

D

Stock Options (Right to Buy)

$ 24.05

05/14/2013

05/14/2018

Common Stock

3,000

3,000

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
DEARDORFF KEVIN L 3254 W. STATE RD 14 SILVER LAKE, IN 46982			Executive Vice President

Signatures

Teresa A. Bartman, Attorney-in-Fact		03/05/2012
**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 Restricted Stock Unit exercises into 1 share of Common Stock.
(2)	Restricted Stock Unit awards are a conditional promise to transfer a share at a specific futurue date and do not have an expiration date.
(3)	The Restricted Stock Units are subject to forfeiture based on corporate performance criteria.

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