By Jerika Ihnen
Aurum Staff

Every year hundreds of thousands of bikers travel from all over the world to be a part of the legendary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.  For 2010, an estimated 600,000 people traveled to the Black Hills between Friday, Aug. 6, and Sunday, Aug. 15.

Needless to say, extra workers are hired at area restaurants, campgrounds and at arriving vendor booths.  Some say attending the Rally is an experience of a lifetime, but a number of School of Mines students can vouch that working at the Rally is just as much of an experience as attending it.

“I truly didn’t know what to expect,” said Tristan Burnett, interdisciplinary science senior. “Everyone tries to prepare you for the things you will see and how long the week becomes, but until you experience it – you can’t possibly know.”

Burnett worked at the Legendary Buffalo Chip campground at the west gate.  The Buffalo Chip is known for legendary acts they book for concerts, and they claim the best party at the rally and campers that never seem to sleep.

This year the Buffalo Chip brought in a number of big names including The Scorpions, Disturbed, Jason Aldean, Ozzy Osbourne, Bob Dylan, Kid Rock, and even a special appearance by Pee Wee Herman.  The night of Kid Rock’s performance the campground boasted 260,000 in attendance.

“The concerts were a special treat after a long workday,” said Burnett. “That is if you had enough energy after a long day working in the hot sun.  I admit that one day I was in bed by 9:30 p.m. it gets so tiring.”

Kyle Doerr, environmental engineering junior, was another School of Mines student who worked at the rally.  Doerr also worked at the Buffalo Chip, but unlike Burnett, this was not his first rodeo.

“I’ve worked at the Chip now for four years,” said Doerr, “But every year there are new experiences and new stories to tell.”

His duties included assisting campers in finding their reserved spot.  He lead them to their location by having them follow him on a 4-wheeler.

“I wore a cowboy hat and shades everyday to help with the sun,” said Doerr. “One day a lady actually asked me for my autograph because she thought I looked like Kenney Chesney.”

Some stories these students have can only be told in person, but the only way to truly understand their experiences is to go and work the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally next summer in August.