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 *
WELCH M SCOTT
   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)
6 LONGWOOD COURT		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
05/01/2006
(Street)

ELKHART, IN 46516		 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               6,600 D  
Common Stock               1,400 I By Spouse

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
Phantom Stock (1)             10/25/2005 10/25/2005 Common Stock 44   44 D  
Phantom Stock (1)             04/26/2005 04/26/2015 Common Stock 44   44 D  
Phantom Stock (1)             07/12/2005 07/12/2015 Common Stock 432   432 D  
Phantom Stock (1)             07/26/2005 07/26/2015 Common Stock 36   36 D  
Phantom Stock $ 0             01/01/2003 01/01/2003 Common Stock 4,169.8   4,169.8 D  
Phantom Stock $ 0             01/07/2003 01/07/2013 Common Stock 594.6   594.6 D  
Phantom Stock $ 0             01/28/2003 01/28/2013 Common Stock 34.6   34.6 D  
Phantom Stock $ 0             04/28/2003 04/28/2013 Common Stock 33   33 D  
Phantom Stock $ 0             07/10/2003 07/10/2013 Common Stock 476   476 D  
Phantom Stock $ 0             07/30/2003 07/30/2013 Common Stock 28   28 D  
Phantom Stock $ 0             10/27/2003 10/27/2013 Common Stock 30   30 D  
Phantom Stock $ 0             01/16/2004 01/16/2014 Common Stock 466   466 D  
Phantom Stock $ 0             01/26/2004 01/26/2014 Common Stock 26   26 D  
Phantom Stock $ 0             04/28/2004 04/28/2014 Common Stock 38   38 D  
Phantom Stock $ 0             07/14/2004 07/14/2014 Common Stock 562   562 D  
Phantom Stock $ 0             07/26/2004 07/26/2014 Common Stock 40   40 D  
Phantom Stock $ 0             10/26/2004 10/26/2014 Common Stock 38   38 D  
Phantom Stock $ 0             01/11/2005 01/11/2015 Common Stock 458   458 D  
Phantom Stock $ 0             01/26/2005 01/26/2015 Common Stock 36   36 D  
Phantom Stock (1) 05/01/2006   A   43     (2)   (3) Common Stock 43 $ 23.28 609 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) $ 7.5625             02/08/2005 02/08/2010 Common Stock 1,200   1,200 D  
Stock Options (Right to buy) $ 9.7188             02/09/2004 02/09/2009 Common Stock 1,150   1,150 D  
Stock Options (Right to buy) $ 17.185             12/09/2008 12/09/2013 Common Stock 1,000   1,000 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
WELCH M SCOTT
6 LONGWOOD COURT
ELKHART, IN 46516		   X      

Signatures

 Teresa A. Bartman, Attorney-in-Fact   05/01/2006
**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).
(3) Phantom shares expire after the directors' retirement as a Board member.
(2) Phantom stock is exercisable after the directors' retirement as a Board member.
(1) Each phantom stock unit exersises into 1 share of Common Stock.

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