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 *
  RECHIN MICHAEL C
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
11/21/2005		 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 Operating 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 2,000
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

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
RECHIN MICHAEL C
200 EAST JACKSON STREET
MUNCIE, IN 47305		       Executive Vice President Chief Operating Officer

Signatures

Michael C. Rechin 11/21/2005
**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 C. Rechin, has authorized
and  designated  Larry R. Helms and/or Cynthia G. Holaday 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 and/or  Cynthia G. Holaday 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 and Cynthia G.  Holaday are not assuming any of the
undersigned's  responsibilities  to comply  with  Section  16 of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.

Date: November 11, 2005

/s/ Michael C. Rechin
---------------------
    Michael C. Rechin

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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