Document:

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                                                                  Exhibit 10.156
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July 30, 2001

1.   This contract between Meadow Valley and Thomas Mining, LLC will be for a
     term of five (5) years, beginning September 1, 2001 and ending August 31,
     2006. There is an Option term that would be for a two (2) year period
     beginning September 1, 2006 and ending on August 31, 2008.

2.   Meadow Valley will do all the crushing out of Thomas Mining pit for any job
     where they may need material in the Yuma area.

3.   There is to be a fifty cents ($0.50) per ton royalty charge for the first
     100,000 tons of material used by Meadow Valley for Meadow Valley projects.

4.   After the first 100,000 tons, the next 100,000 tons will be at a royalty
     charge of sixty-five cents ($0.65) per ton.

5.   After the first 200,000 tons and through the balance of the five-year
     contract, the royalty price will be eighty-five cents ($0.85) per ton.
     During the two-year (2) option term the royalty price will be ninety-five
     ($0.95) per ton, with the right to negotiate on large jobs.

6.   Thomas Mining, LLC has the right to sell ABC, rock, sand etc. to any other
     contractors.

7.   In the event another contractor got a job and material was required, Meadow
     Valley will do all the crushing for Thomas Mining, LLC and the price for
     the particular material will be negotiated between Meadow Valley and Thomas
     Mining, LLC before bid time. Thomas Mining, LLC will then sell the material
     to the other contractor at whatever price Thomas Mining, LLC and the other
     contractor work out.

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8.   Thomas Mining, LLC will provide a well that will discharge 300 gallons per
     minute. When Meadow Valley uses the well, Meadow Valley will pay for the
     power to run the well.

9.   Meadow Valley agrees to do all crushing for Thomas Mining, LLC and the fees
     for that will be negotiated. In the event Meadow Valley can not perform on
     crushing demands or negotiate the fees, Thomas Mining, LLC, reserves the
     option to hire another firm or bring in their own equipment to do crushing.

10.  Meadow Valley will maintain all insurance necessary for their operation at
     the pit and name Thomas Mining, LLC as additional insured.

11.  At the expiration of this contract, Meadow Valley has six (6) months to
     remove equipment and clean site or complete any incomplete projects.

12.  988F loader to be supplied by BLT Companies at an agreed rate of $80.00 per
     hour with an increase each year, after the first year, of 3% per year,
     without operator and maintained by Meadow Valley unless both parties agree
     otherwise. Any damage caused by Meadow Valley will be paid by Meadow
     Valley.

13.  Scales will be provided by Thomas Mining, LLC at a charge to Meadow Valley
     of twenty cents ($0.20) per ton. Scales will be operated by BLT Companies.

14.  If Material is taken from BLM land Meadow Valley will pay a willage fee of
     forty cents ($0.40) per ton to Thomas Mining LLC plus the royalty prices
     that BLM sets.

Thomas Mining, LLC                      Meadow Valley

/s/ BRIAN LEE THOMAS                    /s/ Samuel J. Grasmick
---------------------------             ------------------------
By: Brian Lee Thomas    dated           By: Samuel J. Grasmick    dated 8/10/01
                                            --------------------

Its: Manager                            Its: Area Manager
                                             -------------------

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                                                                  Exhibit 10.157
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                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is entered into as of the 15th day of September
2001, by and between Meadow Valley Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the
"Employer"), and Steven L. Kiesel (the "Employee").

     The Employer hereby employs the Employee on a full-time basis, and the
Employee hereby accepts such full-time employment on the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth.

     1. EMPLOYMENT. Employee is employed as the Area Manager - Utah Area for the
Employer. Employee shall perform all duties as outlined herein and as may be
assigned by the Employer and shall devote full time, attention and loyalty to
the affairs of the Employer. The duties of the Employee shall specifically be:

         A) Complete responsibility for the operational and financial aspects of
     the Utah Area, including profit and loss responsibility.
         B) To select, hire and maintain qualified management personnel and to
     administer and review annually the performance of each person within his
     direct supervision and adjust compensation in accordance with Company
     guidelines and subject to the prior approval of the Corporate Chief
     Operating Officer.
         C) To oversee the selection, preparation and submission of construction
     contract estimates and materials sales quotes and proposals and to
     determine margins in order to maximize Company profitability.
         D) To oversee the preparation of annual or periodic revisions of
     project and material plant budgets for submissions to the Corporate Chief
     Operating Officer for approval, to insure that cost controls are in place
     and utilized to accurately track production and delivery costs, to monitor
     customer and project schedules to insure timely and accurate delivery of
     products and to provide decision-making and problem-solving assistance in
     all aspects of the Utah Area. To oversee the negotiation, preparation and
     execution of all subcontracts, purchase agreements, credit policies and
     other agreements within the Utah Area and as may be required by the
     Corporate Chief Administrative Officer.
         E) To maintain and promote relationships with customers and owners with
     whom the Company contracts.
         F) To insure that periodic reporting such as monthly production
     reports, project Fcosts and ECAC's and other cost and revenue reports as
     required by management are prepared and submitted correctly and on a timely
     basis.
         G) Prepares annual operating budgets and capital expenditure budgets
     and periodic forecasts as required.
         H) Resolve complaints and/or claims relating to the Utah Area, or to
     provide assistance in preparing for and presenting the Company's position
     in claims hearings.
         I) To provide input and counsel to strategic and business plans for the
     entire Company.
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         J) To assist in any other projects or duties as may be assigned by the
     Chief Operating Officer.
         K) To see that all Company policies are enforced and adhered to.

     2. TERM. Subject to the provisions of termination provided in paragraph 11,
the initial term of this Agreement shall commence on September 15, ------- 2001
and terminate on September 15, 2006. This Agreement may be extended by the
mutual written agreement of the Employee and the Employer.

     3. COMPENSATION. Employee shall receive a base salary of Ninety-four
thousand dollars ($94,000.00) per year, payable in accordance with the regular
payroll practices of Employer, and subject to applicable deductions of
withholding taxes and other customary employment taxes. The Chief Operating
Officer shall review Employee's salary at a minimum annually and may adjust
Employee's salary upward to recognize improvement, achievement or expansion of
Employee's responsibilities subject to approval of the Board Compensation
Committee. Employee shall participate in cash incentive plans as currently
existing or as amended or adopted in the future by the Compensation Committee of
Employer's Board of Directors. Cash bonus plans are subject to annual review
and/or change as recommended by the Compensation Committee and approved by the
Board of Directors.

     4. OPTIONS TO ACQUIRE COMMON STOCK. Employee is eligible to participate in
the Meadow Valley Corporation 1994 Stock Option Plan. Future grants of stock
options shall be subject to the discretion of Meadow Valley Corporation's board
of directors.

     5. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS. Employer shall provide to Employee, and to Employee's
dependents, a comprehensive major medical, health, and dental insurance program
comparable to the programs normally provided by other employers in the same
industry and marketplace, and the Employer shall pay the cost of the Employee's
portion of the premium. Insurance coverage may be subject to pre-existing
condition limitations. Should, at any time, the Employee opt to maintain a
personal major medical and health insurance policy for himself and for his
dependents and not participate in the Employer's group plan, then Employer shall
reimburse Employee the lesser of the amount Employee pays for said personal
policy, as evidenced by adequate documentation, or what Employer would otherwise
be paying were Employee participating in the Employer's group plan. Should the
Employee opt to maintain his own coverage, neither he nor his dependents shall
be precluded from later participating in the Employer's group plan so long as
they otherwise qualify for enrollment.
     At Employer's cost and subject to verification of insurability, Employer
will maintain a life insurance policy covering Employee, with at least $250,000
of death benefits being payable, in a manner that is free of income tax, to
Employee's estate or other beneficiaries designated by Employee.
     Employer agrees to provide Employee with an automobile for business-related
use. In additional to the cost of the vehicle itself, Employer shall pay,
directly or by

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reimbursement to Employee, for all maintenance, fuel, repairs, insurance,
operating and other costs incidental thereto.
     Employer shall pay for, or reimburse Employee for, dues for his membership
in industry related associations perceived as beneficial to Employer and as
approved by the Chief Executive Officer of the Chief Operating Officer.
     So long as it is within the guidelines of the respective plan, Employee
shall be given the opportunity to participate in the Employer's 401(k).

     6. MOVING EXPENSES AND SUBSISTENCE. Employer shall pay for all moving costs
of reasonable and normal household effects from Las Vegas to a single location
in Utah as designated by the Employee, including up to six months storage of
such household effects in Las Vegas or Utah, whichever is more economical and
practical, while Employee and his spouse obtain a permanent residence in Utah.
Employee shall obtain two moving and storage quotes from reputable movers and
Employer shall pay the most competitive rate.
     Employer shall provide Employee a subsistence allowance of One Thousand
Dollars ($1,000.00) per month for the lesser of three months from September 1,
2001 or until such time as the relocation of the Employee and his spouse to Utah
is complete.

     7. HOLIDAYS AND VACATION.

         A) Employee shall be paid for the following seven (7) holidays: New
     Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and
     the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day and all other holidays for
     Employees of the Company as approved by the Chief Executive Officer or
     Board of Directors.
         B) Employee is entitled to three weeks vacation during the first year
     of employment and for each year thereafter. Unused vacation in any given
     year shall accrue to following years up to a maximum of eight weeks in any
     one year. All other conditions with respect to vacations shall be
     consistent with the Company's vacation and holiday policy.

     8. RESPONSIBILITIES OF EMPLOYEE. The Employee shall devote such reasonable
time as is necessary or is deemed reasonably necessary by the Employer to carry
out all required duties and will devote full time to the Employer during normal
business hours. The Employee shall at all times faithfully, with diligence and
to the Employee's best good faith ability, experience and talents, perform all
the duties that may be required pursuant to the express terms hereof to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Employer, in accordance with customary
professional standards.

     9. WORKING FACILITIES. The Employee shall be furnished with all facilities
and services suitable to Employee's position and adequate for the performance of
Employee's duties.

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     10. EXPENSES. The Employee is authorized to incur reasonable expenses for
promoting business of the Employer, including expenses for entertainment,
travel, and similar items. The Employer shall reimburse the Employee for all
such expenses on the presentation by the Employee of itemized and adequately
documented accounts of such expenditures.

     11. TERMINATION. This Employment Agreement may be terminated under the
following circumstances:

         A) WITHOUT CAUSE. Employer may terminate this Agreement at any time
     upon thirty (30) days written notice to Employee, but Employer shall be
     obligated to pay to Employee compensation in a lump sum for the balance of
     the term of this Agreement within 30 days of termination, unless Employee
     agrees to other payment terms.
         B) VOLUNTARY TERMINATION BY EMPLOYEE WITHOUT CAUSE. Employee may
     terminate this Agreement at any time upon thirty (30) days written notice
     to Employer and Employer shall be obligated, in that event, to pay Employee
     compensation up to the date of the termination only. All accrued but unpaid
     compensation shall be paid in cash within 30 days of termination, unless
     Employee agrees to other payment terms.
         C) TERMINATION BY EMPLOYER FOR REASONABLE CAUSE. The Employer may
     terminate this Agreement for reasonable cause upon thirty (30) days written
     notice to the Employee and Employer shall be obligated, in that event, to
     pay Employee compensation up to the date of termination only. For purposes
     hereof, "cause" shall be defined as meaning (i) such conduct by the
     Employee which constitutes material breach of this Agreement which is not
     cured within ninety (90) days of written notice to the Employee of said
     alleged breach or (ii) a material failure to competently perform Employee's
     duties as stated in paragraph 1 in accordance with applicable professional
     standards as stated in paragraphs 1 and 8 hereof provided that Employer has
     previously given Employee written notice and a reasonable opportunity to
     remedy such failure and such failure has materially adverse effect on the
     business or financial condition of Employer or (iii) material breach of
     Employee's fiduciary duty and such breach has a material adverse effect on
     the business or financial condition of Employer or (iv) egregiously
     improper or illegal conduct of the Employee which, in the Employer' sole
     discretion, has a material adverse effect on Employer.

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         D) TERMINATION BY EMPLOYEE FOR REASONABLE CAUSE. Employee may terminate
     this Agreement for cause. In such event, Employer shall be obligated to pay
     Employee compensation in lump sum for the balance of the term of this
     Agreement within 30 days of termination or as Employee shall agree, plus
     damages suffered and expenses incurred by reason thereof. For this purpose
     "cause" shall mean (i) a material breach of this Agreement by Employer or
     (ii) failure of Employer to pay any amount owed Employee hereunder at the
     time and in the amount due or (iii) failure of Employer to follow
     applicable law or (iv) egregiously improper conduct with respect to dealing
     with Employee or in a manner which brings discredit to Employee.

     12. CONFIDENTIALITY. Employee agrees not to disclose any confidential,
proprietary competitively sensitive information to persons who are not
employees, directors, lenders, bonding agents, insurance companies or advisors
of the Employer, except as required by law, without prior consent of the
Employer; provided however, any disclosure involving this paragraph shall not
result in a breach of this Agreement unless the disclosure has a materially
adverse effect on the Employer.

     13. NOTICES. All notices, demands, and communications given under this
Agreement ("Notice") shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, in the United States
mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

         If to Employer:
                   Meadow Valley Corporation
                   P.O. Box 60726
                   Phoenix, AZ 85082-0726

         If to Employee:

                   -----------------------------------
                   -----------------------------------
                   -----------------------------------

or at such other address as a party may from time to time designate by Notice
hereunder. Notice shall be effective upon delivery in person, or if mailed, at
midnight on the third business day after the date of mailing.

     14. ASSIGNMENT OF AGREEMENT. Neither party may assign or otherwise transfer
this Agreement or any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior
written consent to such assignment or transfer by the other party hereto; and
all the provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon the respective
employees, successors, heirs and assigns of the parties; provided, however, the
benefits payable to Employee hereunder in the event of disability or death or
incapacity are payable to Employee's spouse or personal representative.

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     15. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS. This Agreement
and the representations, warranties, covenants and other agreements (however
characterized or described) by both parties and contained herein or made
pursuant to the provisions hereof shall survive the execution and delivery of
this Agreement.

     16. FURTHER INSTRUMENTS. The parties shall execute and deliver any and all
such other instruments in reasonable mutually acceptable form and substance and
shall take any and all such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to
carry the intent of the Agreement into full force and effect.

     17. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held,
declared or pronounced void, voidable, invalid, unenforceable or inoperative for
any reason by any court of competent jurisdiction, governmental authority or
otherwise, such holding, declaration or pronouncement shall not affect adversely
any other provision of this Agreement, which shall otherwise remain in full
force and effect and be enforced in accordance with its terms, and the effect of
such holding, declaration or pronouncement shall be limited to the territory of
jurisdiction in which made.

     18. WAIVER. All the rights and remedies of either party under this
Agreement are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights and remedies
provided by law. No delay or failure on the part of either party in the exercise
of any right or remedy arising from a breach of this Agreement shall operate as
a waiver of any subsequent right or remedy arising from a subsequent breach of
this Agreement. The consent of any party where required hereunder to any act or
occurrence shall not be deemed to be a consent to any other act or occurrence.

     19. GENERAL PROVISIONS. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in
accordance with, and governed by, the laws of the state of Arizona. Except as
otherwise expressly stated herein, time is of the essence in performing under
this Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding
between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings
relating to the subject matter of this Agreement as it relates to the parties'
duties and obligations from and after September 15, 2001, and this Agreement may
not be modified or amended or any term or provision hereof waived or discharged
except in writing signed by the party against whom such amendment, modification,
waiver or discharge is sought to be enforced. The headings of this Agreement are
for convenience in reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning thereof. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which taken together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.

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     20. SPECIAL RIGHT OF EMPLOYEE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. During the term
of this Agreement, if the Employer is involved in a merger, consolidation or
other business combination in which the Employer is not the surviving and
controlling entity and the Employee is required to relocate outside the State of
Utah in a manner not mutually acceptable to Employee and Employer, then Employee
shall have the following rights:

         A) To terminate this Agreement with 30 days prior notice, in which
     event Employer shall pay Employee an amount equal to one year's salary at
     the Employee's current rate and
         B) All options granted shall, to the extent not specifically prohibited
     by the stock option plan then in effect, vest immediately and be
     exercisable within one year of the termination notice provided in A above.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the day and year
first above written.

                                        Meadow Valley Corporation

/s/ STEVEN L. KIESEL                    By /s/ BRADLEY E. LARSON
---------------------                      ----------------------
Employee                                   President/CEO

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