Here at Leader Publications, we are officially one month into the production of our biggest project all year.

We are in the middle of producing our yearly Horizons magazine, released in February, that celebrates the stories and triumphs of our communities and the people within them. It is a product that our news team puts dozens of hours into writing — and rewriting — to ensure a top-quality product. It is, without a doubt, my favorite product we produce all year.

This year is my third Horizons. Two years ago, during my first Horizons, I was relatively new to the newsroom. It was an overwhelming, but exhilarating and extremely rewarding experience. With the theme “There’s No Place Like Home,” I was able to learn more about my new home and tell the stories of my new neighbors.

Last year’s Horizons, with the theme “Made in Michiana,” I was able to learn more about the industries in our communities and share in the economic pride of southwest Michigan.

This year, our theme is “A 2020 Vision for the Future,” and we are focusing on the growth of our communities and what is coming next. Although we have months until our publication date, already our news team has written fantastic stories about high school seniors with bright futures ahead of them, writers turning to self-publishing in the face of a difficult market and the impact program changes have on athletes. These are just a taste of the many, many more stories to come, and each celebrates the future of Buchanan, Cassopolis, Dowagiac, Edwardsburg and Niles. There is so much on the horizon (see what I did there?), and we can’t wait to share it all with you.

We are having so much fun putting your stories, successes and plans for the future to the page. I can’t wait for you to read them. Let us be a part of your future by keeping an eye out for our completed Horizons edition this winter.