clipping and fitting fees

[5PCC]

It has been 20 years or so since I showed cattle. I don't have any idea what Dad paid someone to clip a calf before the show, or to fit the calf at the show. My kids are starting to show at more open shows (and bigger shows). I'm sure this varies with location and other variables (including if you did or did not purchase the calf from the clipper/fitter)...but what is a typical fee for someone to just clip your calf prior to going to the show? What is a typical fee for someone to fit/groom the calf at the show?

 

[shortyjock89]

When I was freelance, it was $150 for me to turn my clippers on, and extra depending on how much there was to do. Add ons for having to shear the head and for poorly behaving cattle. Show days, depending on the size of the job was around $250. It was $175 a day to put me on retainer for as long as you needed (sale calves to clip, long shows, etc). Reduced rates for repeat clients and friends.

Now that I'm full time taking care of show cattle, I only help my oldest clients and friends, and I rarely take payment from them.

 

[DSC]

$150 per head for clipping plus travel expenses. Show day fitting $150 per head plus travel expenses if I am not already at the show. All supplies are supplied by the owner. Calves purchased from me are free of charge.

 

[Tallcool1]

The people that we buy our steers from handle the clipping.  They will not take any money, but I buy lots of beer and drop off pizza.  I will take care of the ranch when they all go to Denver, KC, or Louisville.  My kids will also show us at sale time and wash sale calves, and work hair of 10 head of fat steers while they are getting clipped for Major shows. 

As far as fitting at the shows, I will generally kick in about $50-$100 depending upon how many calves we have at the show.  They will assemble a crew of fitters, and help us get them ready.  We will generally travel in groups of 4-5 families that all bought calves from the same trader.  We will stall together, share blocking chutes, and basically just run them through about as fast as they can get them ready. 

 

[paj315]

We usually pay around $150 per head to clip at the farm before a big show then it's around $50-$100 per head to fit show day

 

[AAOK]

Just my opinion, but if our family couldn't do the job (Sports, Livestock, Academics, etc), we would not participate. Clipping & Fitting is not that hard to master. All it takes is patience and imagination. Winning a big show with a Calf you bred and fit is SO MUCH MORE rewarding!

And, startling the crowd!!!!

 

[Tallcool1]

Just my opinion, but if our family couldn't do the job (Sports, Livestock, Academics, etc), we would not participate. Clipping & Fitting is not that hard to master. All it takes is patience and imagination. Winning a big show with a Calf you bred and fit is SO MUCH MORE rewarding!

And, startling the crowd!!!!

I agree with this......to a degree.

I believe that expecting someone that has not been around showing cattle for 20 years to be able to know how to handle every part of the process is a little unrealistic.  I also believe that a good clip/fit job is easily the difference between maximizing potential and standing dead last in class. 

Would it not be rewarding to get on the Honor Roll even though you had a tutor help you for a month?  Would it not be rewarding to seek the assistance of a pitching coach or shooting coach?

 

[DSC]

(clapping) Tallcool1 totally agree with you one this one.

 

[DSC]

*on

 

[Dozer45]

I think it needs to be a combo of AAOK and TALLCOOL

for local shows/ jackpots we always do all the clipping and fitting ourselves. Even for state fair I do my own work now but bigger stuff like NWSS I have them clipped, we still do the fitting ourselves. I dont have a problem with people paying to have their animal worked on but I think the family needs to be right there watching and asking questions. Not just the kid scratching with a show stick  playing on their phone. The ultimate goal should be to learn enough to start doing it on your own

 

[okiegirl]

My daughter and I do all the daily work with husband pitching in sometimes.  My daughter is a senior this year and clips the heads and fits the tails.  The people (who have become like family) we buy from will come a few days before and rough clip if he's able to be at the show and then show day he, my daughter and husband fit the calves.  For jackpots we along with our ag teacher will fit and clip.  I am the wash, dry and breakdown hand, as well as gopher.  It's a family affair.  For a major show we usually have a paid crew on hand.  Even Miss America has a team

 

[5PCC]

Before an all out debate starts in response to a simple question (as is typical for steerplanet)...doing it ourselves is the goal, but while we learn the ropes, it is probably best to pay someone to HELP us out (that does NOT mean do everything for us). Thanks to everyone who gave me the simple answer that I was looking for.
THANK YOU, TALLCOOL1, FOR REALIZING THAT THINGS ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN THEY WERE WHEN I SHOWED. I APPRECIATE YOUR KIND WORDS. If it makes any of you feel better, my family has been to a clipping and fitting clinic. I am putting what I already know with what I am learning right along side my kids.

 

[Tallcool1]

Before an all out debate starts in response to a simple question (as is typical for steerplanet)...doing it ourselves is the goal, but while we learn the ropes, it is probably best to pay someone to HELP us out (that does NOT mean do everything for us). Thanks to everyone who gave me the simple answer that I was looking for.
THANK YOU, TALLCOOL1, FOR REALIZING THAT THINGS ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN THEY WERE WHEN I SHOWED. I APPRECIATE YOUR KIND WORDS. If it makes any of you feel better, my family has been to a clipping and fitting clinic. I am putting what I already know with what I am learning right along side my kids.

You are welcome.

I was in your shoes 2 1/2 short years ago.  When we started going, the crew that we bought from MADE my 11 year old son run the blower, and paint legs.  They were right on top of him, with their arms around him, hand in hand, so that he knew the right way to do things.  By the end of the first year, they were doing the same thing, with the addition of tails.  They said that doing a tail is a great way to learn what adhesive does, and how much is too much.

One year later, we took them the steers before the show.  They MADE them sit on a bucket and hold a spot light while they clipped.  They would have them 99% clipped.  Then they sent us down the road to the show.  They would be at the show, but no hand holding this year.  We would know that if we got in trouble all we had to do was go pull on someones sleeve and they would come help us.  Usually we didn't even have to clip legs after we got them pulled up.  The crew knew that the goal was to get us to the point that we didn't need help, so they clipped them to near perfection.  By the end of year 2, we were at State Fair, and they didn't even come check on us.  They came over about 10 minutes before we headed to the ring, checked for fill, and went to the ring with us.  They coached up the kids in the staging area, tailed the steers to the ring, and were standing at the exit to the ring waiting for them.  They helped us through Weigh-Back, and baby sat the steer between the class and Division Drive.  A little more coaching, a friendly and supportive arm wrapped around their shoulder, tailed them back into the Drive, and away they went again. 

This mentoring type of relationship with the right operation is priceless.  The kids and families know that these people KNOW what they are doing.  They have been here before...MANY TIMES.  They give my kids something that I can't give them.  Confidence.

You keep doing what you are doing, and be proud of it.  I am proud of you for getting back into it after so much time away.  Utilize your resources and soon you will be doing it on your own!

 

 

[5PCC]

Tallcool-Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

 

[AAOK]

Before an all out debate starts in response to a simple question (as is typical for steerplanet)...doing it ourselves is the goal, but while we learn the ropes, it is probably best to pay someone to HELP us out (that does NOT mean do everything for us). Thanks to everyone who gave me the simple answer that I was looking for.
THANK YOU, TALLCOOL1, FOR REALIZING THAT THINGS ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN THEY WERE WHEN I SHOWED. I APPRECIATE YOUR KIND WORDS. If it makes any of you feel better, my family has been to a clipping and fitting clinic. I am putting what I already know with what I am learning right along side my kids.

You are welcome.

I was in your shoes 2 1/2 short years ago.  When we started going, the crew that we bought from MADE my 11 year old son run the blower, and paint legs.  They were right on top of him, with their arms around him, hand in hand, so that he knew the right way to do things.  By the end of the first year, they were doing the same thing, with the addition of tails.  They said that doing a tail is a great way to learn what adhesive does, and how much is too much.

One year later, we took them the steers before the show.  They MADE them sit on a bucket and hold a spot light while they clipped.  They would have them 99% clipped.  Then they sent us down the road to the show.  They would be at the show, but no hand holding this year.  We would know that if we got in trouble all we had to do was go pull on someones sleeve and they would come help us.  Usually we didn't even have to clip legs after we got them pulled up.  The crew knew that the goal was to get us to the point that we didn't need help, so they clipped them to near perfection.  By the end of year 2, we were at State Fair, and they didn't even come check on us.  They came over about 10 minutes before we headed to the ring, checked for fill, and went to the ring with us.  They coached up the kids in the staging area, tailed the steers to the ring, and were standing at the exit to the ring waiting for them.  They helped us through Weigh-Back, and baby sat the steer between the class and Division Drive.  A little more coaching, a friendly and supportive arm wrapped around their shoulder, tailed them back into the Drive, and away they went again. 

This mentoring type of relationship with the right operation is priceless.  The kids and families know that these people KNOW what they are doing.  They have been here before...MANY TIMES.  They give my kids something that I can't give them.  Confidence.

You keep doing what you are doing, and be proud of it.  I am proud of you for getting back into it after so much time away.  Utilize your resources and soon you will be doing it on your own!

Tallcool1, great post!  That's where I was heading, but got tied up and didn't get time to post. Your analogy to coaching and tutoring is exactly how the knowledge and skills of Clipping/fitting and daily grooming should progress, but many of us who started in the sport of Show Cattle neither knew there was help available, and/or could afford such assistance.  I suppose my do-it-yourself attitude comes from starting my first business at the age of 8, and continued from there with absolutely no assistance but that from my Lord. I have many times served as a coach and mentor, but such help as yours with Fitters who coached are few & far between.

Our Family project with Show Calves was just that, a family project. We did it All, ourselves, because that's the way we roll. When the picture was taken for our Bred & Owned Grand Champion National Heifer, the only person in the pic was our daughter!  Can you imagine

 

[sizzler14]

Just my opinion, but if our family couldn't do the job (Sports, Livestock, Academics, etc), we would not participate. Clipping & Fitting is not that hard to master. All it takes is patience and imagination. Winning a big show with a Calf you bred and fit is SO MUCH MORE rewarding!

And, startling the crowd!!!!

I think this statement here is ridiculous (Clipping & Fitting is not that hard to master). Nobody just picks up a comb and set of clippers and are masters. It takes years and hundreds and hundreds of cattle to get good and I will argue that with anybody. When going to a show, the best steer doesnt always win ( ex: the term "barn favorite"). You can have a decent steer and beat a really really good steer if A: you outfit and present the really really good steer and B: you out show the person leading the steer. I have beat a lot of really good steers and heifers by outfitting and showing the other person. I think until you are certain you can have your calf at 12 o'clock, hire somebody. Especially now a days with cattle and fuel prices. I dont know about you guys, but dropping $3,000 dollars on a calf is hard for the average family. Now add $100 for fuel, $50 for adhesive and removal, $50-$100 for food for the family, plus potentially a hotel room, and all your time just to go to a show and lose to a less superior calf because you were too cheap to hire someone and you got out presented??? Seems kinda stupid to me. Now if your talking about a prospect county fair steer show okay, but even a county fair where your showing a 1300 pound steer. Say the grand gets $4.00/ pound, you have the better calf and stand 2nd to it and get $3.00/ pound. Well congrats, you just cost yourselves $1,300.00!!!!! I think everyone should practice at home and continue to get better, but I feel until you get extremely good and confident, just hire it done. Trust me, winning feels good whether you did it yourself or hired it done. its all better than losing because you left some cards on the table. to answer the question, i feel $100.00-$150.00/ head is a pretty good target for clipping and fitting at a show plus expenses.

 

[AAOK]

Just my opinion, but if our family couldn't do the job (Sports, Livestock, Academics, etc), we would not participate. Clipping & Fitting is not that hard to master. All it takes is patience and imagination. Winning a big show with a Calf you bred and fit is SO MUCH MORE rewarding!

And, startling the crowd!!!!

I think this statement here is ridiculous (Clipping & Fitting is not that hard to master). Nobody just picks up a comb and set of clippers and are masters. It takes years and hundreds and hundreds of cattle to get good and I will argue that with anybody. When going to a show, the best steer doesnt always win ( ex: the term "barn favorite"). You can have a decent steer and beat a really really good steer if A: you outfit and present the really really good steer and B: you out show the person leading the steer. I have beat a lot of really good steers and heifers by outfitting and showing the other person. I think until you are certain you can have your calf at 12 o'clock, hire somebody. Especially now a days with cattle and fuel prices. I dont know about you guys, but dropping $3,000 dollars on a calf is hard for the average family. Now add $100 for fuel, $50 for adhesive and removal, $50-$100 for food for the family, plus potentially a hotel room, and all your time just to go to a show and lose to a less superior calf because you were too cheap to hire someone and you got out presented??? Seems kinda stupid to me. Now if your talking about a prospect county fair steer show okay, but even a county fair where your showing a 1300 pound steer. Say the grand gets $4.00/ pound, you have the better calf and stand 2nd to it and get $3.00/ pound. Well congrats, you just cost yourselves $1,300.00!!!!! I think everyone should practice at home and continue to get better, but I feel until you get extremely good and confident, just hire it done. Trust me, winning feels good whether you did it yourself or hired it done. its all better than losing because you left some cards on the table. to answer the question, i feel $100.00-$150.00/ head is a pretty good target for clipping and fitting at a show plus expenses.

Sizzler14, I believe you missed a few words in my post. I did not give a timeline on how long it may take to master Clipping/Fitting. Everyone is gifted, but we are certainly not all the same. We started in Show Caves from scratch, purchasing 2bred cows. We had never been around calves, but had watched a few shows. Eleven years later we owned 9 cows, and had attended 11 Jr Nat'ls, 11 State Fairs, 20 county shows, and apprx 75 Jackpot shows. My 2 daughters and I did ALL the work. The 3 of us watched and questioned all the great fitters at every show, and trudged our way to being great feeders, groomers, fitters, and the girls, fantastic Showmen. I will say that by our 4th year, we were very very good at presenting a great calf. Where there is the will, there is the way. From the very 1st show, We turned our project over to The Lord of all creation. He did the rest!

 

[jwfarms]

There is a knack to it, but like anything it just takes a lot of time and patience.  Whenever we would hire someone to help, I made sure he was teaching me also.  Now we fit our own for the most part unless time is an issue.

 

[5PCC]

I have to say that this comment…

“Just my opinion, but if our family couldn't do the job (Sports, Livestock, Academics, etc), we would not participate. Clipping & Fitting is not that hard to master. All it takes is patience and imagination. Winning a big show with a Calf you bred and fit is SO MUCH MORE rewarding!”

…neither answers my question, nor is it helpful to me. It is, however, a PRIME EXAMPLE of why I am more and more hesitant to ask questions on steerplanet.

Here’s the deal…Although it has been 20 plus years since I showed, I am NO DUMMY in the show ring. I have shown in 12 different states. My brother, sister, and I have won MANY of the major shows…Denver, Louisville, Iowa State Fair, National Jr Heifer Show, etc. with our Chianina and Maine-Anjou heifers. Then my parents went through a particularly nasty divorce when I was in high school, and all of a sudden we didn’t show cattle anymore. I was heartbroken because I loved showing cattle!

When I showed, kids were not as actively involved in clipping and fitting the calves as they are today, but that doesn’t mean that we did not work our tails off! We were up early before school to do chores, and up late to do chores after basketball or football practice and homework. We didn’t sleep in during the summer like our friends did, and we didn’t just hang out at the pool all day like our friends did. We were in the barn most of the day, every day!

My Mom, brother, sister, and I were good at fitting the body and doing the tails. Dad was one of the best around at trimming the hooves, and he did some basic clipping at home. But the majority of the clipping and all of the fitting of the legs were done by our personal fitter.

My kids have shown for a few years now. We started slow because I wanted them to understand the commitment that it takes to do it right.

It is hard to start over as a nobody when you were once on top, but I am giving it a try. To be honest, the show world is not always welcoming to a new show family. Most often (but not always) nobody wants to share their secrets for growing hair, feed rations, where to buy a good show animal or breeding stock, etc. Someone either has to figure things out for themselves along the way, or be lucky enough to find a mentor family (probably someone that they have purchased a few calves from) to show them the ropes.

I break the calves myself until they are tame enough for the kids to work with. Then my three kids and I work with the calves every day. My husband’s involvement is limited. He has a lot of other commitments that take up his time, but he is learning more about the show cattle world and starting to spend more time in the barn with us. My Mom also helps us some at shows.

We are starting to go to more shows, and are starting to show at bigger shows. We showed at the Missouri State Fair for the first time this year, and we will also show at the Kansas City Royal this fall.

I took my kids, my mom, and two heifers to a clipping and fitting clinic this spring. We learned a lot, and we are practicing at home. We even fit the calves ourselves at every show this year, except for the State Fair.

The show world has changed some in 20 years. Some of the people are the same, but most of them are new to me, especially since I now live in a different state. There are definitely things that I don’t know (or haven’t learned yet), but I also have talents and skills to bring to our family show team…

I was a very good showperson, even though it has been awhile since I have been in the show ring. I have lots of tips to pass on to my kids so that they can also be successful as a showman/woman. I know how to feed a steer and heifer to the desired condition (as good or better than most), I know how to grow a nice coat of hair, and I KNOW CATTLE. In addition to my past showing experience, my parents owned a sale barn, my step-dad and his brother owned a sale barn, and my step-dad was a fat cattle buyer and fat cattle feeder up until the day that he died. I have learned from people who make a living off of buying and selling various types and kinds of cattle. I know a good one from a bad one, whether it be in the show ring, in the commercial man’s cowherd, or in the feedlot.

We took three calves to the State Fair this year. Our crossbred heifer was third in her class. Our two crossbred steers ended up in the same class. They were third and fourth. I was very pleased with that for our first trip there!

Two of those calves were purchased from a kid who was showing for his last year before he aged out of FFA. He and two of his friends helped us fit all three calves at the State Fair. When I asked him what I owed all of them, he answered with “whatever”. I wanted to be fair when I paid them, and I truly had no idea what someone typically charges for clipping and fitting. Therefore, I asked this question here.

Thank you to those of you who gave me a helpful answer which included a specific dollar amount, or a pizza donation, etc. AND THANK YOU TO TALLCOOL1 AND SIZZLER14 FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

 

[Tallcool1]

I have to say that this comment…

“Just my opinion, but if our family couldn't do the job (Sports, Livestock, Academics, etc), we would not participate. Clipping & Fitting is not that hard to master. All it takes is patience and imagination. Winning a big show with a Calf you bred and fit is SO MUCH MORE rewarding!”

…neither answers my question, nor is it helpful to me. It is, however, a PRIME EXAMPLE of why I am more and more hesitant to ask questions on steerplanet.

Here’s the deal…Although it has been 20 plus years since I showed, I am NO DUMMY in the show ring. I have shown in 12 different states. My brother, sister, and I have won MANY of the major shows…Denver, Louisville, Iowa State Fair, National Jr Heifer Show, etc. with our Chianina and Maine-Anjou heifers. Then my parents went through a particularly nasty divorce when I was in high school, and all of a sudden we didn’t show cattle anymore. I was heartbroken because I loved showing cattle!

When I showed, kids were not as actively involved in clipping and fitting the calves as they are today, but that doesn’t mean that we did not work our tails off! We were up early before school to do chores, and up late to do chores after basketball or football practice and homework. We didn’t sleep in during the summer like our friends did, and we didn’t just hang out at the pool all day like our friends did. We were in the barn most of the day, every day!

My Mom, brother, sister, and I were good at fitting the body and doing the tails. Dad was one of the best around at trimming the hooves, and he did some basic clipping at home. But the majority of the clipping and all of the fitting of the legs were done by our personal fitter.

My kids have shown for a few years now. We started slow because I wanted them to understand the commitment that it takes to do it right.

It is hard to start over as a nobody when you were once on top, but I am giving it a try. To be honest, the show world is not always welcoming to a new show family. Most often (but not always) nobody wants to share their secrets for growing hair, feed rations, where to buy a good show animal or breeding stock, etc. Someone either has to figure things out for themselves along the way, or be lucky enough to find a mentor family (probably someone that they have purchased a few calves from) to show them the ropes.

I break the calves myself until they are tame enough for the kids to work with. Then my three kids and I work with the calves every day. My husband’s involvement is limited. He has a lot of other commitments that take up his time, but he is learning more about the show cattle world and starting to spend more time in the barn with us. My Mom also helps us some at shows.

We are starting to go to more shows, and are starting to show at bigger shows. We showed at the Missouri State Fair for the first time this year, and we will also show at the Kansas City Royal this fall.

I took my kids, my mom, and two heifers to a clipping and fitting clinic this spring. We learned a lot, and we are practicing at home. We even fit the calves ourselves at every show this year, except for the State Fair.

The show world has changed some in 20 years. Some of the people are the same, but most of them are new to me, especially since I now live in a different state. There are definitely things that I don’t know (or haven’t learned yet), but I also have talents and skills to bring to our family show team…

I was a very good showperson, even though it has been awhile since I have been in the show ring. I have lots of tips to pass on to my kids so that they can also be successful as a showman/woman. I know how to feed a steer and heifer to the desired condition (as good or better than most), I know how to grow a nice coat of hair, and I KNOW CATTLE. In addition to my past showing experience, my parents owned a sale barn, my step-dad and his brother owned a sale barn, and my step-dad was a fat cattle buyer and fat cattle feeder up until the day that he died. I have learned from people who make a living off of buying and selling various types and kinds of cattle. I know a good one from a bad one, whether it be in the show ring, in the commercial man’s cowherd, or in the feedlot.

We took three calves to the State Fair this year. Our crossbred heifer was third in her class. Our two crossbred steers ended up in the same class. They were third and fourth. I was very pleased with that for our first trip there!

Two of those calves were purchased from a kid who was showing for his last year before he aged out of FFA. He and two of his friends helped us fit all three calves at the State Fair. When I asked him what I owed all of them, he answered with “whatever”. I wanted to be fair when I paid them, and I truly had no idea what someone typically charges for clipping and fitting. Therefore, I asked this question here.

Thank you to those of you who gave me a helpful answer which included a specific dollar amount, or a pizza donation, etc. AND THANK YOU TO TALLCOOL1 AND SIZZLER14 FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

It seems that you and I have a lot in common!

There are shows that you can do all of the fitting at and be just fine.  There are also shows that you better take all the help you can get.  You were showing Crossbred Steers at a State Fair.  You could have easily showed them in the "Chi" or "Maine"...maybe even an "Angus".  You threw those two first year projects right at the fire.  Take the help that you can get, and go on.

For the record, I am going to say that AAOK is not typically the type of person that is going to rub someone the wrong way just for the sake of doing it.  I believe that some of his message may have been lost in context.  I really don't believe that there was any intent to upset you.  I don't blame you for taking the comments the way that you did, but I encourage you to send him a PM and give him a second chance.  On August 23rd, he posted a reply that really explained his point of view and explained that he had not finished his original post.  Just don't be too tough on him, he is a good guy.

And hey, when it gets right down to it, the AAOK team didn't REALLY do it on their own...God helped them.  I am going to pray to God, but I think I will also call Goretska and Bremer.