Exhibit



EXHIBIT 10.3





NOTE: Execution of this Adoption Agreement creates a legal liability of the Employer with significant tax consequences to the Employer and Participants. Principal Life Insurance Company disclaims all liability for the legal and tax consequences which result from the elections made by the Employer in this Adoption Agreement.


Principal Life Insurance Company, Raleigh, NC 27612
A member of the Principal Financial Group®








THE EXECUTIVE NONQUALIFIED EXCESS PLAN ADOPTION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is the adoption by Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (the "Company") of the Executive Nonqualified Excess Plan ("Plan").


W I T N E S S E T H:


WHEREAS, the Company desires to adopt the Plan as an unfunded, nonqualified deferred compensation plan; and


WHEREAS, the provisions of the Plan are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder and shall apply to amounts subject to section 409A; and


WHEREAS, the Company has been advised by Principal Life Insurance Company to obtain legal and tax advice from its professional advisors before adopting the Plan,


NOW, THEREFORE, the Company hereby adopts the Plan in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Adoption Agreement:


ARTICLE I


Terms used in this Adoption Agreement shall have the same meaning as in the
Plan, unless some other meaning is expressly herein set forth. The Employer hereby represents and warrants that the Plan has been adopted by the Employer upon proper authorization and the Employer hereby elects to adopt the Plan for the benefit of its Participants as referred to in the Plan. By the execution of this Adoption Agreement, the Employer hereby agrees to be bound by the terms of the Plan.


ARTICLE II


The Employer hereby makes the following designations or elections for the purpose of the Plan:


2.6    Committee:    The duties of the Committee set forth in the Plan shall be satisfied by:


         (a)    Company


		
	     
	(b)    The administrative committee appointed by the Board to serve at the pleasure of the Board.




         (c)    Board.


XX    (d)    Other (specify): The Compensation Committee of the Board.







DD2320-7












2.8    Compensation:  The "Compensation" of a Participant shall mean all of a Participant's:
XX    (a)    Base salary.


         (b)    Service Bonus.


		
	     
	Service Bonus earned from 1/1 – 12/31, paid on or around first quarter of the following Plan Year.




		
	     
	Service Bonus earned each calendar quarter, paid on or around the following calendar quarter..




         Service Bonus with no defined earnings period (e.g.: a “spot bonus”)




XX    (c)    Performance-Based Compensation earned in a period of 12 months or more.


		
	XX
	Performance Based Bonus earned from 1/1 – 12/31, paid on or around first quarter the following Plan Year and whose elections must be made no later than 6/30 of the Plan Year it is earned.




         Performance Based Bonus earned from     , paid on or around
		
	 
	the following Plan Year and whose elections must be made no later than     of the Plan Year it is earned.


	
			
	 
	.

	 
	(d)
	Commissions.

	 
	(e)
	Compensation received as an Independent Contractor reportable on Form 1099.

	 
	(f)
	Other:     








2.9    Crediting Date: The Deferred Compensation Account of a Participant shall be credited as follows:


Participant Deferral Credits at the time designated below:
XX    (a)    On any business day as specified by the Employer.


         (b)    Each pay day as reported by the Employer.


         (c)    The last business day of each payroll period during the Plan Year.




Employer Credits at the time designated below:


XX    (a)    On any business day as specified by the Employer.














2.13    Effective Date:
XX    (a)    This is a newly-established Plan, and the Effective Date of the Plan is
May 1, 2017.




2.20    Normal Retirement Age: The Normal Retirement Age of a Participant shall be:
XX    (a)    Age 65.


		
	     
	(b)    The later of age     or the     anniversary of the participation commencement date. The participation commencement date is the first day of the first Plan Year in which the Participant commenced participation in the Plan.




         (c)    Other:     .




		
	2.23
	Participating Employer(s): As of the Effective Date, the following Participating Employer(s) are parties to the Plan:




	
		
	Name of Employer
	EIN

	Federal Agricultural Mortgage
    Corporation   
	

    52-1578738   












2.26    Plan: The name of the Plan is


Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan of Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation




2.28    Plan Year: The Plan Year shall end each year on the last day of the month of December.




2.30    Seniority Date: The date on which a Participant has:


         (a)    Attained age    .


         (b)    Completed      Years of Service from First Date of Service.


         (c)    Attained age     and completed     Years of Service from First Date of  Service.


		
	XX
	(d)    Not applicable – distribution elections for Separation from Service are not based on Seniority Date
















4.1    Participant Deferral Credits: Subject to the limitations in Section 4.1 of the Plan, a Participant may elect to have his Compensation (as selected in Section 2.8 of this Adoption Agreement)
deferred within the annual limits below by the following percentage or amount as designated in writing to the Committee:


XX    (a)    Base salary:


	
			
	minimum deferral:
	 
	     %

	maximum deferral:
	80
	%






         (b)    Service Bonus:


         Service Bonus.


	
		
	minimum deferral:       
	%

	maximum deferral:       
	%








XX    (c)    Performance-Based Compensation:


XX    Performance Based Bonus


	
			
	minimum deferral:
	 
	     %

	maximum deferral:
	80
	%








         (d)    Commissions:


	
		
	minimum deferral:       
	%

	maximum deferral:       
	%






         (e)    Form 1099 Compensation:


	
		
	minimum deferral:       
	%

	maximum deferral:       
	%






         (f)    Other:


	
		
	minimum deferral:       
	%

	maximum deferral:       
	%






         (g)    Participant deferrals not allowed.














4.1.2    Participant Deferral Credits and Employer Credits – Election Period: Participant elections regarding Participant Deferral Credits and Employer Credits shall be subject to the following effective periods (one must be selected):
		
	     
	(a)    Evergreen election.  An election made by the Participant shall continue in effect for subsequent years until modified by the Participant as permitted in Section


4.1 and Section 4.2. (This option is not permitted if source year accounts are elected in Section 5.1)


		
	XX
	(b)    Non-Evergreen election.  Any election made by the Participant shall only remain in effect for the current election period and will then expire.  An election for each subsequent year will be required as permitted in Sections 4.1 and 4.2.






		
	4.2
	Employer Credits: Employer Credits will be made in the following manner:


		
	XX
	(a)    Employer Credits: The Employer may make credits to the Deferred Compensation Account of each Active Participant in an amount determined as follows:


         (i)    An amount determined each Plan Year by the Employer.


XX    (ii)    Other: See formula for Employer Credits in Appendix A.


		
	     
	(b)    Other Employer Credits: The Employer may make other credits to the Deferred Compensation Account of each Active Participant in an amount determined as follows:


         (i)    An amount determined each Plan Year by the Employer.


         (ii)    Other:     .


         (c)    Employer Credits not allowed.














5.1    Deferred Compensation Account: The Participant is permitted to establish the following accounts:
		
	XX
	(a)        Non-source year account(s).  Deferred Compensation Account(s) will not be established on a source year basis:




		
	     
	(i)    A Participant may establish only one account to be distributed upon Separation from Service. One set of payment options for that account is allowed as permitted in Section 7.1. Additional In-Service or Education accounts may be established as permitted in Section 5.4.




		
	XX
	(ii)    A Participant may establish multiple accounts to be distributed upon Separation from Service. Each account may have one set of payment options as permitted in Section 7.1 Additional In-Service or Education accounts may be established as permitted in Section 5.4.


If this multiple account option is elected, the Participant will also be required to elect Separation from Service payment options for each In- Service or Education account established.


		
	     
	(b)    Source year account(s):  Annual Deferred Compensation Account(s) will be established each year in which Participant Deferral Credits or Employer Credits are credited to the Participant.  Only one account may be established each


year for distribution upon Separation from Service. One set of payment options for that account is allowed as permitted in Section 7.1. Additional In- Service or Education accounts may be established for each source year as permitted in Section 5.4. If this option is selected, Evergreen elections as described in Section 4.1.2 are not permitted.




		
	5.2
	Disability of a Participant:


		
	XX
	(a)    A Participant's becoming Disabled shall be a Qualifying Distribution Event and the Deferred Compensation Account shall be paid by the Employer as


provided in Section 7.1.


         (b)    A Participant becoming Disabled shall not be a Qualifying Distribution Event.






5.3    Death of a Participant: If the Participant dies while in Service, the Employer shall pay a benefit to the Beneficiary in an amount equal to the vested balance in the Deferred Compensation Account of the Participant determined as of the date payments to the Beneficiary commence, plus:
         (a)    An amount to be determined by the Committee.


XX    (b)    No additional benefits.














5.4    In-Service or Education Distributions: In-Service and Education Accounts are permitted under the Plan:
XX    (a)    In-Service Accounts are allowed with respect to:
XX    Participant Deferral Credits only.
         Employer Credits only.
         Participant Deferral and Employer Credits.


In-service distributions may be made in the following manner:
XX    Single lump sum payment.
XX    Annual installments over a term certain not to exceed 5 years.


Education Accounts are allowed with respect to:
         Participant Deferral Credits only.
         Employer Credits only.
         Participant Deferral and Employer Credits.


Education Accounts distributions may be made in the following manner:
         Single lump sum payment.
         Annual installments over a term certain not to exceed     years.


If applicable, amounts not vested at the time payments due under this Section cease will be:
         Forfeited
         Distributed at Separation from Service if vested at that time


         (b)    No In-Service or Education Distributions permitted.




		
	5.5
	Change in Control Event:


		
	     
	(a)    Participants may elect upon initial enrollment to have accounts distributed upon a Change in Control Event.




XX    (b)    A Change in Control shall not be a Qualifying Distribution Event.




		
	5.6
	Unforeseeable Emergency Event:


		
	XX
	(a)    Participants may apply to have accounts distributed upon an Unforeseeable Emergency event.




         (b)    An Unforeseeable Emergency shall not be a Qualifying Distribution Event














6.    Vesting:  An Active Participant shall be fully vested in the Employer Credits made to the Deferred Compensation Account upon the first to occur of the following events:


	
					
	 
	(a)
	Normal Retirement Age.

	XX
	(b)
	Death.

	XX
	(c)
	Disability.

	 
	(d)
	Change in Control Event

	XX
	(e)
	Satisfaction of the vesting requirement as specified below:

	 
	XX
	Employer Credits:

	 
	(i)
	Immediate 100% vesting.

	XX
	(ii)
	100% vesting after 3 Years of Service.

	 
	(iii)
	100% vesting at age    .

	 
	(iv)
	Number of Years   Vested
of Service   Percentage






	
			
	Less than
	1
	     %

	 
	1
	     %

	 
	2
	     %

	 
	3
	     %

	 
	4
	     %

	 
	5
	     %

	 
	6
	     %

	 
	7
	     %

	 
	8
	     %

	 
	9
	     %

	 
	10 or more
	     %








For this purpose, Years of Service of a Participant shall be calculated from the date designated below:


         (1)    First day of Service.


XX    (2)    Effective date of Plan participation.


		
	     
	(3)    Each Crediting Date. Under this option (3), each Employer Credit shall vest based on the Years of Service of a Participant from the Crediting Date on which each Employer Discretionary Credit is made to his or her Deferred Compensation Account.
















         Other Employer Credits:


	
			
	 
	(i)
	Immediate 100% vesting.

	 
	(ii)
	100% vesting after      Years of Service.

	 
	(iii)
	100% vesting at age    .

	 
	(iv)
	Number of Years   Vested
of Service   Percentage






	
			
	Less than
	1
	     %

	 
	1
	     %

	 
	2
	     %

	 
	3
	     %

	 
	4
	     %

	 
	5
	     %

	 
	6
	     %

	 
	7
	     %

	 
	8
	     %

	 
	9
	     %

	 
	10 or more 
	     %








For this purpose, Years of Service of a Participant shall be calculated from the date designated below:


         (1)    First day of Service.


         (2)    Effective date of Plan participation.


		
	     
	(3)    Each Crediting Date. Under this option (3), each Employer Credit shall vest based on the Years of Service of a Participant from the Crediting Date on which each Employer Discretionary Credit is made to his or her Deferred Compensation Account.





7.1    Payment Options: Any benefit payable under the Plan upon a permitted Qualifying Distribution Event may be made to the Participant or his Beneficiary (as applicable) in any of the following payment forms, as selected by the Participant in the Participation Agreement:


		
	(a)
	Separation from Service (Seniority Date is Not Applicable)




XX    (i)    A lump sum.













		
	XX
	(ii)    Annual installments over a term certain as elected by the Participant not to exceed 10 years.




		
	(b)
	Separation from Service prior to Seniority Date (If Applicable)




         (i)    A lump sum.


XX    (ii)    Not Applicable


		
	(c)
	Separation from Service on or After Seniority Date (If Applicable)




         (i)    A lump sum.


		
	     
	(ii)    Annual installments over a term certain as elected by the Participant not to exceed     years.




XX    (iii)    Not Applicable




		
	(d)
	Death




XX    (i)    A lump sum.


		
	     
	(ii)    Annual installments over a term certain as elected by the Participant not to exceed     years.




		
	(e)
	Disability




XX    (i)    A lump sum.


		
	     
	(ii)    Annual installments over a term certain as elected by the Participant not to exceed     years.




         (iii)    Not applicable.


If applicable, amounts not vested at the time payments due under this Section cease will be:
         Forfeited
         Distributed at Separation from Service if vested at that time








(g)    Change in Control Event


         (i)    A lump sum.



XX    (ii)    Not applicable.


If applicable, amounts not vested at the time payments due under this Section cease will be:
         Forfeited
         Distributed at Separation from Service if vested at that time















7.4    De Minimis Amounts.


		
	     
	(a)    Notwithstanding any payment election made by the Participant, the vested balance in all Deferred Compensation Account(s) of the Participant will be distributed in a single lump sum payment at the time designated under the Plan if at the time of a permitted Qualifying Distribution Event that is either a Separation from Service, death, Disability (if applicable) or Change in Control Event (if applicable) the vested balance does not exceed $     .  In addition, the Employer may distribute a Participant's vested balance in all Deferred Compensation Account(s) of the Participant at any time if the balance does not exceed the limit in Section 402(g)(1)(B) of the Code and results in the termination of the Participant's entire interest in the Plan




		
	XX
	(b)    There shall be no pre-determined de minimis amount under the Plan; however, the Employer may distribute a Participant's vested balance at any time if the balance does not exceed the limit in Section 402(g)(1)(B) of the Code and results in the termination of the Participant's entire interest in the Plan.






10.1    Contractual Liability: Liability for payments under the Plan shall be the responsibility of the:


XX    (a)    Company.


		
	     
	(b)    Employer or Participating Employer who employed the Participant when amounts were deferred.






14.    Amendment and Termination of Plan: Notwithstanding any provision in this Adoption Agreement or the Plan to the contrary, Section     of the Plan shall be amended to read as provided in attached Exhibit     .


XX    There are no amendments to the Plan.




17.8    Construction: The provisions of the Plan shall be construed and enforced according to the laws of the State of District of Columbia, except to the extent that such laws are superseded by ERISA and the applicable provisions of the Code.

































IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed as of the day and year stated below.
Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation
Name of Employer


By:/s/ Stephen P. Mullery     Authorized Person


Date:  April 25, 2017    













































































































APPENDIX


Section 4.2(a)(ii)


Employer Credits will be calculated and credited periodically to the Deferred Compensation Account of each Participant on any business day as specified by the Employer. Employer Credits will be determined in accordance with the following formula:


For each Plan Year, the Employer shall credit the Deferred Compensation Account of each Participant in an amount determined as follows: 18.9% of the difference between (1) the Participant's Annual Base Salary and (2) the annual compensation limit under Code Section 401(a)(17).


For these purposes, the “Annual Base Salary” of a Participant shall be the Participant’s base salary for the 12-month period ending on the last day of the Plan Year, as specified in the Employer’s proxy statement or other periodic report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. For the avoidance of doubt, a Participant’s Annual Base Salary shall not include: bonuses, taxable fringe benefits, employer contributions to any retirement or deferred compensation plans, amounts realized from the exercise of stock options or stock appreciation rights, amounts realized from the grant or vesting of stock, or payouts of accumulated sick or vacation pay upon a Separation of Service.


If a Participant is the Chief Executive Officer of the Employer and has a base salary that exceeds $700,000, that Participant’s Annual Base Salary shall be deemed to be $700,000 for purposes of determining the amount to credit the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account each Plan Year.


If a Participant  is  not the  Chief Executive Officer  of  the  Employer  and  has a  base  salary that  exceeds
$500,000, that Participant’s Annual Base Salary shall be deemed to be $500,000 for purposes of determining the amount to credit the Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account each Plan Year.