I don't know how competitive your county is, but around here (NW WI), we usually can get away with a pretty simple clip and fit job on the pairs. We clip off the cow's head and neck nice and short. This helps them look youthful and keeps them feminine. Our females never see a cooler, only fans and misters if they are lucky, so the cows are often pretty slick. We set the tailhead and bone out the legs a bit and call it good. Granted a more detailed approach is necessary for bigger, more competitive shows, but around here, this approach will look polished enough for a county or regional show.
And don't forget the old girl's bag! Keep the hair tidy and short. She shouldn't need a rear flank full of hair to look deep when she is milking! A judge SHOULD take the udder into consideration when placing, so don't hide a good udder with hair. Also, practice pre-show nursing at home, so you can tell how much to let the calf nurse (or not) before the class to show the udder to its maximum advantage.
