I've got Logan finding Valerian Root in a small container. I don't have any books or DVDs, we just wing it for training. For a long time now I have hidden a toy in a field or somewhere and told him "find it", he knows what that means. Not long ago I started on the valerian root...I set the container down and marked every time he nosed it...then paired that with "show me"....then I hid it and walked him by, he caught scent of it and same thing...now he knows "find it" means look for valerian root. That's how I taught him.

The other day I hid the container on one side of this support beam under this big covered area in front of a school. It was perfect, it had a nice crevice complete with spider webs to hide it out of reach. I had him back tied around the corner (barking). I even walk around the whole area so he won't just track me and go directly to it.

It was windy and he managed to find it very quickly anyway. Instead of indicating on the side of the container, he was on the other side downwind. I rewarded him but should I have made him show me where it was on the other side? I figured its better to reward for that than possibly confusing him, because he obviously smelled where it was. (I said "show me" but he just stood on his hind legs and sat back down).

I like the "he just stood on his hind legs". It shows a nice effort to get to the source.
I would suggest that you have others hide the item. That will proof the dog off of your scent on the article and also keep you from unknowingly giving the dog hints with your body language.
When you add another person to the scenario then take a couple of steps back and make it easy till you see he understands.
Does he have an indication?

I think you did it right - you are rewarding him when he finds the strongest scent, which 99% of the time will be the item. That might not have appeared to be a tricky location, but wind will swirl around a column and I can see that causing some confusion.

On a side note...why are you using Valerian Root? I have never heard of it before.

Bob: Yes, his indication is to sit (or down if down low). When its up high he naturally likes to leap up at it first...when down low he will scratch at it sometimes, I just wait until he downs.

John: I'm using Valerian root just because its novel.

We're doing this just for fun right now.

I thought that might be the case. I throw dog treats out in the yard and have my dog find them as well as using leather squares that I keep in my pocket (I also do it just for fun). When I take my girls out to Grandma & Grandpa's house, they go hide out in their forested 20 acres and I let him track the kids.

I am thinking about also doing trials with him or even training him to find something (like bed bugs) and we work together in the future. But I'm not sure yet. Thanks both of you.