Ownership Submission
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
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Stewart Michael J
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
01/29/2008		 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)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) __X__ Other (specify below)
Executive Vice President / Chief Banking Officer
 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 3,750
D
 

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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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
Employee stock option right to buy 01/29/2010 01/29/2018 Common Stock 6,000 $ 24.55 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Stewart Michael J
200 EAST JACKSON STREET
MUNCIE, IN 47305		       Executive Vice President Chief Banking Officer

Signatures

Larry R. Helms (Confirming Statement on File) 01/30/2008
**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, Michael J. Stewart, has authorized and
deignated 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
equired to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a result of of
the undersigned's owndership of or transactions in the 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. Helmsis not assuming any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply
with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

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

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