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Born and raised in Avella, PA, Tim Paris has always believed in supporting his community. The land his family has owned for years proved to be the perfect site for a gathering place to celebrate the agricultural history of the area while supporting local nonprofit organizations.
Paris, who helped establish Avella's volunteer fire department junior fire program, was approached by local business owners, Michelle and Alan Gordon, to identify fundraising opportunities to support the fire department. The Gordons were heavily involved in the community and in supporting local causes. Paris and the Gordons envisioned a venue where the community could gather for family-friendly entertainment, while also supporting the fire department.
This vision became reality in 2007, when the Paris family built the Little A Town Arena on reclaimed strip mine land on their property. With an idyllic backdrop of rolling hills and farmland stretching for miles, they hosted events such as monster truck shows, truck and tractor pulls, horse shows, and rodeos. The proceeds from these events went to the volunteer fire department.
The arrival of the Marcellus Shale industry in Washington County in the mid-2000s brought profound change to Avella. Many local volunteer firefighters found work in drilling operations, and their demanding schedules left little time to volunteer at the arena. The arena sat idle for almost 20 years, as the volunteer base dwindled.
But in 2024, Little A Town Arena finally reopened, with a restructured mission and financial giving model. Events at Little A Town now support a variety of local organizations within the Avella school district.
"Any funds remaining after expenses for shows, equipment, and any board-approved infrastructure improvements go back into the community," says Paris.
The events held at Little A Town Arena rely on volunteers from the organizations they support, and funds are distributed based on their participation. Events include the rodeo, local community days, and more recently, the Indian Pow-Wow Mountain Man Rendezvous, a celebration of indigenous culture and frontier traditions. A Christmas Market/Light drive-through is already being planned for the holiday season. Any organization Little A Town supports must have a PA nonprofit number and must provide an audited financial report. Before any distribution of money, they must provide the prior year's audited financial statements. They also must be based in the Avella school district area.
"The way it works is if they show up and volunteer, based off their percentage of participation, we determine what their share of the money would be," says Paris. The donation amounts range from $1,000 to $20,000 per organization. In their first year under the newly restructured operations, the arena donated around $56,000 to the nonprofits in the community. They topped that in the second year, when total donations increased to $68,000. The local fire department is still involved, generating funds by selling beverages at events.
Little A Town has supported a total of 11 nonprofits, including Avella Athletics, helping to fund uniforms, coaching, and field maintenance; the Avella Fire Department and West Middletown Fire Department; and Memories in the Making, a local equestrian facility that works with people with disabilities. The Arena has also supported the local library and senior citizens’ services.
The community has also welcomed back the Little A Town Rodeo, packing the stands for the high-energy entertainment, like barrel racing, bronc riding, bull riding, and roping competitions. The timing worked out perfectly. With the popularity of rodeo increasing in recent years, Little A Town brings the experience to western Pennsylvanians.
Little A Town Arena has received funding by working with county and local leaders through grant programs, tourism services, and other donors. A Local Shares Account (LSA) grant recently funded the purchase of a 1,000-seat bleacher installation. They are also working with NAP to help fund the Little A Town Arena rodeo club.
Paris has big plans for the future of Little A Town. He is in the early stages of developing the Little A Town Rodeo Club, an educational program for local youth who are interested in rodeo and agriculture. The program will teach rodeo and also the behind-the-scenes skills that go along with it, like hauling and caring for the animals.
"Not everyone wants to ride a bull or wrestle a steer, but there are many other avenues to get involved in rodeo," says Paris.
The club is being organized by a team of local leaders with experience in rodeo, 4-H and FFA. The goal is to provide additional extracurricular activities for local youth, beyond traditional athletics. The program will complement existing 4-H and FFA groups, rather than compete with them. They are also partnering with local greenhouses to teach horticulture skills.
The club will offer winter clinics that cover agriculture, CPR, first aid, and farm equipment safety. It will also emphasize the importance of community involvement and volunteering in the community, like the fire department and other organizations. They are also planning spring classes that teach animal handling and care. The Rodeo Club’s goal is to support and prepare local youth for potential careers in agriculture.
Paris has visions for future expansion. Little A Town Arena is nearing its capacity for parking and size, so they are currently focusing on continuing site improvements. The long-term vision is to expand operations and work with local and county officials to build a larger, enclosed show arena that can facilitate concerts and major rodeos in the Avella community.
While they plan for the future of Little A Town and the possibility of a larger venue, Paris plans to preserve the original Little A Town Arena as a hometown venue for rodeo club practice and smaller youth rodeos. Despite the larger plans to support the community, Little A Town Arena will remain true to its roots, serving as a laid-back gathering place for locals to celebrate the small-town traditions of agriculture and rodeo.
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