Al Rieman of Black Hills Harley-Davidson and Keith Terry of Terry Components shake hands during a press conference announcing the Buffalo Chip Challenge, a Western Dakota Tech project to build a custom motorcycle.

Although the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is eight months away, students at Western Dakota Tech’s welding, manufacturing and collision repair students will soon be hard at work creating a new custom motorcycle for the August event.

The Rapid City school has teamed up with the Sturgis Buffalo Chip rally campground and concert venue, Black Hills Harley-Davidson, Terry Components and other motorcycle industry companies to kick off the Third Annual Buffalo Chip Challenge.

The bike the students build — actually a customized Harley-Davidson Road King donated by Black Hills Harley — will be auctioned off during next year’s Legends Ride, a Buffalo Chip-Deadwood charity ride that has raised more than $200,000 in the past four years.

But this is more than a fund raiser. The students who participate will get some real-world, hands-on experience in the custom motorcycle industry. They will learn the techniques to fabricate, customize and paint custom motorcycles.

Although the Black Hills is home to the one of the world’s biggest motorcycle gatherings, the motorcycle manufacturing and aftermarket custom bike industry is still fairly new here. The Buffalo Chip Challenge is a way to help build a home-grown motorcycle industry, according to Challenge organizers.

Industry veteran Keith Terry of Terry Components in Spearfish will work with the students to build the bike. It will be unveiled during Western Dakota Tech graduation ceremonies in May.