Kasey Fioramonti is a 4-H youth development Extension agent serving Scott County. She helps young people build skills, confidence, and civic awareness through hands-on programs and community partnerships, with a special focus on connecting youth and older adults and opening doors to leadership and public service.

Based in Scott County since 2016, Kasey previously worked at the W. E. Skelton 4-H Educational Conference Center helping with 4-H camp. She holds a master’s in natural resources from Virginia Tech, a bachelor’s in social work from Ferrum College, and graduate certificates in natural resources and global sustainability.

How did you get started in Extension? What brought you to this work?

"A college friend told me about 4-H and said, “You should apply to work on camp staff.”

He kept encouraging me and finally convinced me to apply for a climbing instructor job even though I didn’t know much about climbing. I worked as a climbing instructor for three summers at the W. E. Skelton 4-H Educational Conference Center.

After college, I knew I wanted to keep working with 4-H and I was offered a job in Scott County. I grew up in central Virginia, in Henry County. Prior to applying to Scott County, I didn’t know it existed; it was new to me. I figured, “Why not?” and it turned out to be a great fit."

What do you enjoy most about your role in Extension?

"I enjoy being the bridge between people and opportunities. I love helping folks connect and seeing what happens when they do. Sometimes that means helping a young person realize they’re capable of more than they thought. Sometimes it means connecting community members who end up creating something great together.

I see myself as more of a facilitator than anything else. I’m not the one doing all the work; I just help open the door. The best part is watching people take what we start and make it their own. When you see that spark of confidence in a kid or a program that starts to grow on its own, that’s what makes it all worth it."

How does your work make a difference in your community or region?

"I hope my work connects people in the community who might not otherwise meet. For example, programs that bring older adults and youth together, that’s the kind of legacy I want to leave.

I also want my 4-H members to grow up and come back here. I want them to see that there’s potential in Scott County, that they can build meaningful lives here instead of feeling like they have to leave."

Woman stands in a room and smiles as she speaks to a group.
Pictured: Kasey Fioramonti leading an intergenerational program connecting local FCCLA students and the Agency on Aging in Scott County, Virginia. Photo by Case Keatley for Virginia Cooperative Extension.

What advice would you give someone who’s just beginning their career in Extension?

"I heard Matthew McConaughey say that if you spread yourself too thin, you’ll end up with a bunch of little campfires instead of one big bonfire.

That applies to new Extension agents too. When you start, you’re learning your community and trying to understand all the programs we offer, but you can’t do it all at once. Pick one thing that really excites you, one project that matches your passion, and put your energy into that. Do it well, follow all the right steps, and see what success looks like. Once you’ve built that foundation, then start adding more programs.

I think that’s how we keep people in Extension long term, by helping them connect their personal passions to their work. If they don’t feel that alignment, they burn out quickly."

A woman with grey hair sits in a chair and looks down at a younger woman who crouches in front of her and smiles.
Pictured: Kasey Fioramonti with a participant of an intergenerational program connecting local FCCLA students and the Agency on Aging in Scott County, Virginia. Photo by Case Keatley for Virginia Cooperative Extension.

What are you currently excited about?

"Right now, I’m working on my Ph.D. in public administration and public affairs, and I’m developing a research project that looks at how Extension systems operate. I want to find ways to make those systems more user-friendly and reduce barriers to participation, especially here in Appalachia.

I’m also planning a civic engagement program where youth will attend local government meetings—board of supervisors, school board, and town council. After each one, we’ll debrief about what they learned. I’d like to finish the program with a trip to the state capitol.

Another project I’m excited about starteding after I attended the is a student trip to the National Energy Education Development Conference in Washington, D.C. Students who complete energy projects in their communities can earn an invitation to that event. One of the organizers told me that attending as a teenager changed the course of his life, and I want my students to have that same opportunity.

We’re starting small, with one group at each high school working on local energy audits and projects. I’m really excited to see where it goes."

Finish this sentence: “Extension is important because…”

"Extension is important because it brings people and organizations together who might not otherwise connect.

We fill the gaps. We bring resources, knowledge, and people together in ways that make our communities stronger. That’s what Extension does."

- Written by Case Keatley, field marketing & communications coordinator