Each generation is always looking to the next wondering who will step up to become the leaders of tomorrow. And each generation looks at its prospective successors with trepidation, questioning whether they'll be hard working, diligent and talented enough to forge ahead.

We hope the newly created Youth Leadership Institute will help ease those concerns and provide the leaders and community servants we need to run our businesses, government and nonprofits.

The institute was formed from the combined efforts of our local Chamber of Commerce, the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension office, Newton County 4-H, the Boards of Commissioners and Education and Snapping Shoals Electric Membership Corporation.

The program is modeled after the chamber's Leadership Newton County program and requires a significant time commitment from the student participants.

The two main goals are to equip youth with skills needed to be an effective leader and to develop in youth a better understanding of their potential roles as community leaders.

There was a banquet Monday night to honor some of this year's future leaders, whom you can see in today's paper.

Newton County needs talented leaders now to get us through what we hope is the end of the economic recession, and talented leaders in the future to ensure Newton County develops to the best of its ability.

We salute the sponsors of this program, and we look forward to seeing the successes of our future leaders as they continue to move Newton County in a positive direction.