FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 INITIAL STATEMENT OF 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

OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0104 Expires: January 31, 2005 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *   HOY WILLIAM L 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year) 10/23/2007 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol FIRST MERCHANTS CORP [FRME] (Last) (First) (Middle) 200 EAST JACKSON STREET 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) (Street) MUNCIE, IN 47305 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 Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 4) 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4) 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5) 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5) Common Stock 9,946 D   Common Stock 917 I Custodian - daughter

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.			SEC 1473 (7-02)
	Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
HOY WILLIAM L 200 EAST JACKSON STREET MUNCIE, IN 47305	  X	Â	Â	Â

Signatures

Larry R. Helms (Confirming Statement on File)		11/01/2007
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(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).
  Remarks: Exhibit 24 Confirming Statement This Statement confirms that the undersigned, William L. Hoy, has authorized and designated  Larry R. Helms to execute and file on the  undersigned's  behalf all Forms 3, 4 and 5 (including any amendments  thereto) that the undersigned may be required to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a result of the undersigned's  ownership of or transactions in securities of First Merchants Corporation. The authority of Larry R. Helms under this statement shall continue until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with regard to the  undersigned's  ownership  of or  transactions  in  securities  of  First Merchants  Corporation,  unless  earlier  revoked in  writing.  The  undersigned acknowledges   Larry  R.  Helms  is  not  assuming  any  of  the   undersigned's responsibilities  to comply with  Section 16 of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934. Date: October 26, 2007 /s/ William L. Hoy --------------------     William L. Hoy

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, See Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.