PART IV: ITEM 15. FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT-24

LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY

EXHIBIT 24-LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned directors and officers of First Merchants Corporation, an Indiana corporation, hereby constitute and appoint Mark K. Hardwick, the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned with full power and authority in said agent and attorney-in-fact to sign for the undersigned and in their respective names as directors and officers of the Corporation the Form 10-K of the Corporation to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C., under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and to sign any amendment to such Form 10-K, hereby ratifying and confirming all acts taken by such agent and attorney-in-fact, as herein authorized.

Dated: March 1, 2018

/s/ Michael C. Rechin	/s/ Mark K. Hardwick
Michael C. Rechin, President and	Mark K. Hardwick, Executive Vice President,
Chief Executive Officer	Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)	(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/ Michael R. Becher*	/s/ Michael C. Marhenke*
Michael R. Becher, Director	Michael C. Rechin, Director
/s/ Michael J. Fisher*	/s/ Charles E. Schalliol*
Michael J. Fisher, Director	Charles E. Schalliol, Director
/s/ F. Howard Halderman*	/s/ Patrick A. Sherman*
F. Howard Halderman, Director	Patrick A. Sherman, Director
/s/ William L. Hoy*	/s/ Terry L. Walker*
William L. Hoy, Director	Terry L. Walker, Director
/s/ Gary J. Lehman*	/s/ Jean L. Wojtowicz*
Gary J. Lehman, Director	Jean L. Wojtowicz, Director
/s/ Michael C. Rechin
Michael C. Rechin, Director