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 *
  WALKER TERRY L
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
07/25/2006		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
FIRST MERCHANTS CORP [FRME]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
200 E JACKSON ST		 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 15,611
D
 
Common Stock 551
I
Spouse

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
WALKER TERRY L
200 E JACKSON ST
MUNCIE, IN 47305		   X      

Signatures

Terry L. Walker 07/26/2006
**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:
This statement confirms that the undersigned, has authorized and designed 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.

Dated: June 30, 2006

/s/ Terry L. Walker

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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