SEC FORM 3 SEC Form 3
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
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
 
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number: 3235-0104
Estimated average burden
hours per response: 0.5
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
BLACKBURN SHAWN R

(Last) (First) (Middle)
200 EAST JACKSON STREET

(Street)
MUNCIE IN 47305

(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
05/06/2005
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
FIRST MERCHANTS CORP [ FRME ]
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
Director 10% Owner
X Officer (give title below) X Other (specify below)
Senior Vice President / Administrative Service
5. If Amendment, Date of 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
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 0 D
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: 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
Explanation of Responses:
Shawn R. Blackburn 05/09/2005
** Signature of Reporting Person Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* 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).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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 Number.
Exhibit 24

Confirming Statement

This Statement confirms that the undersigned, Shawn R. Blackburn, 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: May 3, 2005

/s/ Shawn R. Blackburn
- ----------------------
    Shawn R. Blackburn