benefits of fitting

What are the benefits of hiring a fitter at shows?

Could it help me learn more abot what I should be doing when I do it myself?

Yes, if you feel like you need some help to make your cattle look their best, then hire someone to help you.  It's great that you want to learn, so try to find someone that you (and whoever you hire) is comfortable with you watching close and asking lots of questions, and maybe guiding you through some of it yourself.  Not to say you can't learn it on your own, but it'll take a lot longer 'cause you'll do a bunch of learning from your own mistakes. Of course, you're still gonna do some of that, but it'll help a lot. 

Getting done what needs to be done before you arrive at show ,those guys can do wonders , but a lot of time in todays show world most of it is done at home before arriving and that covers a lot of things ....

You will find help that good at their work and is interested in seeing your cattle do their best. 

You will find help that wants to reinvent the wheel and the only thing that concerns them is a paycheck and a beer, sometime not in that order.

So you spent all this money on a calf, feed, show supplies and your questioning if you should hire a fitter. Heck yea you hire a fitter because you want your animal to look its best. Swallow your pride and just face it you can't clip and neither can your Ag teacher. If your going to a major show and everyone is going to be fitting then you fit too. If its a small show don't be the only fitting unless your feeling like a rebel.

First know your limits. Personally I know I'm not good enough to fit or clip at a big show . Our last show was the first of December and I hired a fitter . Our next show isn't until march so in between I can practice a little and follow their lines . But I also know it takes at least 30 days to get good hair so I quit practicing in plenty of time to grow back good hair and let the pros do the work. I like to have them come to our place right before a show and get the calves clipped out them all that way all they have to do show day is fit and trim things up . If it's a small one day show I will have someone clip for me at home then fit myself . Our county fair doesn't allow professional fitters only member , family , or another 4H member. So what we have done is have someone clip at home then find a member from another county that is good at fitting and hire them to fit for us.

Benefits of hiring a fitter at a show:  You do will not feel as if "you" did the work, and therefore can not take all the credit if you win
                                                    You get to relax before going into the ring.
                                                    You do not have enough money to buy any "junk" at the show.
                                                   

Advantages of NOT hiring a fitter: Forces, Encourages you to learn how to clip and fit
                                                  You get to take 100% of the credit when you win
                                                  You have extra money to buy lunch at the show
                                                  You have the sense of accomplishment of doing your own work.
                                                  Soon, you will be good enough at fitting to take someone elses money at the shows

I am not a big fan of having juniors hire professional help at shows. All the "learning and practicing" should be done at home BEFORE the show. I also understand that "big money" might be involved, although I am not a fan of that either.
I am old school, so I think the purpose of "junior projects" is to teach the junior how to care for the project, as well the teaching responsibility and resilience in losing and grace in winning.  Nothing in that equation includes hiring a professional to do the juniors work.