Jerry Freier can see potential in any old junk.

On his days off, the houseparent for troubled children can be found tinkering away in his workshop, turning boards and knick-knacks into what he calls rustic, Dakota-style birdhouses. He'll add a doorknob here, a hinge or old sign there. Then on with some twine, or a brand, or really, anything interesting he's found from estate sales, or junk sales, or auctions on eBay.

And recently, he's added a little oval sticker on the top:Pride of Dakota.

What started as a way to fill his time on days off -he works five days on, five days off at Eckert Youth Home -turned into quite the business venture. And it just made sense, he said, to join Pride of Dakota after receiving a letter about the organization when he registered his product and its name -Dakota Rustic Bird Houses- with the state.

"It's just a good fit,"Freier said.

And it seems to be. After Pride of Dakota's most recent event, its Holiday Showcase, Freier's regular inventory of 40 to 50 birdhouses dropped down to about 10 birdhouses.

That may be because the 2006 showcases were record-breakers for Pride of Dakota, with Bismarck members and consumers leading the way.

"People in Bismarck are really receptive to North Dakota products, more so than other parts of the state,"said Patrice Lahlum with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture.

The program, which began in 1985, is authorized by the state Legislature and sponsored by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture.

And with technology providing faster ways to get more products from across the world into the hands of consumers everywhere, programs encouraging vendors and buyers alike to keep it local are still going strong.

In fact, more than 22,400 people participated in the 2006 Pride of Dakota Holiday Showcases, which includes more than 195 vendors who took part in at least one of the 2006 showcases.

In Grand Forks, 4,505 customers sifted through the North Dakota products; The Minot Showcase attracted 4,200 people; and the Fargo showcase brought in 5,840 people.

But the Bismarck Showcase was the big showbuster, drawing in a record 7,931 people, Lahlum said.

"Customers really like the show, like the quality of products,"she said.

Not only do customers like the products, but vendors like the program. Going on its 13th year, the program continues to slowly increase its membership, ending the year at 440 business members, up about 30 members from last year.

"The shows just continue to grow, so every year we've seen an increase,"Lahlum said.

Which is just fine for Frier. At the Holiday Showcase, not only did he sell down his inventory, but people began contacting him about boxes of old antiques they thought he could use, or junk they wanted to get rid of.

Pride of Dakota doesn't just provide consumers with the local produce and products they want. For business owners like Freier, there are workshops, marketing tools and networking opportunities to constantly draw from:About once a month the program offers webinars, or Web-based seminars, and two live marketing seminars a year.

Lahlum said they want to do more, though. Some local businesses would benefit from more one-on-one help, more personalized attention, she said.

"We're planning to go to the Legislature for an expansion in funding,"she said. "We'd like to help some companies take their products to the next level."

Freier agrees, saying seminars focused on his type of arts and crafts would be beneficial.

Otherwise, he has no complaints about the program, and he just renewed his membership. Pride of Dakota has helped him expand to other craft shows, and get his product out all across the nation, from Monterey, Calif., all the way down to Florida.

"This is about as unique a Dakota product as you can get,"Freier said. "It fits the Dakota image. That's why I like the Pride of Dakota."

(Reach reporter Crystal R. Reid at 250-8261 or at crystal.reid@;bismarcktribune.com)