That doesn't work. Here's my problem, I know that the value exists, I can see it if I load the page and inspect the dropdown. However, when I try to set that value it just doesn't work. Here's what I'm using.

customerInput.ClearSelection()
customerInput.SelectedValue = reader("customerFk")
Response.Write(reader("customerFk"))

the write outputs 86 which I do see in the dropdown as a value. however the selected item is just the very first one.