The 25th annual Augusta Futurity begins this morning at 8 with the first go-round of the $20,000 Non-Pro go-round.

The 10-day show runs through Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center. One of the more entertaining events of the futurity will be Friday night's World Championship Bull Riding championship. The bull riding event, a non-official event of the Augusta Futurity, begins at 8. About 50 of the country's best cowboys are expected to attend the competition, which nearly packed the civic center in its inaugural 2003 showing.

An addition to the futurity, the Western Horseman Cup finals are expected to be a high-stakes affair. The open champion will receive $50,000, and the non-pro winner will be paid $30,000. The two champions will also have their names engraved on a permanent trophy.

Another addition to this year's show is the Western Culture & Food Festival, which runs today through Sunday, in front of the civic center. Also, locals can look forward to the annual Horse & Carriage Parade at 2 p.m., Sunday in downtown Augusta.

Visit the Augusta Futurity website.