They came dressed in blue T-shirts.

Sayles-blue to be sure.

It was their night to shine.

Raymond and Dorothy Sayles and sons have been named Mower County’s “2008 Farm Family of the Year” by the University of Minnesota.

The family was honored at Tuesday night’s “Pride of Mower County” awards ceremonies.

Dan Conradt and Carla Johnson, masters of ceremonies for the program, introduced Jayne Hager Dee, University of Minnesota regional director for the Extension Service.

Hager Dee told the family’s story.

Raymond and Dorothy Sayles live on a Century Farm where, with their sons, Wayne and Dean, they milk 170 Holstein cows, raise steers and farm 500 acres of corn, soybeans and alfalfa.

The farm has been in the Sayles family since 1861.

The Sayleses have been married for 61 years and raised six children. Raymond has been an honoree of the Mower County Livestock Hall of Fame, where he shares the recognition with Mower County’s livestock producing elite.

According to Hager Dee, the Sayles family is one of 64 farm families from around the state, one from each participating county, being honored by the University of Minnesota this year.

Jerry and Pam Sampson, rural Lyle, were honored a year ago.

Profiles of the statewide 2008 honorees can be found on the university’s farm family Web site, mnfarmfamilies.cfans.umn.edu.

Families receiving honors were selected by their local county Extension committees and have demonstrated a commitment to enhancing and supporting agriculture and agriculture production.

“The University of Minnesota is proud to recognize these farm families for their contribution to agriculture and their communities,” said Bev Durgan, dean of University of Minnesota Extension. “Farm families are the foundation of Minnesota agriculture and major contributors to the vitality of our communities.”

University units sponsoring the farm family recognition include University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, and the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Hager Dee added her congratulations to the dean’s.

“This is what Minnesota agriculture is all about,” she said.

Speaking for his family, Raymond Sayles expressed his appreciation for the honor and that of his family’s.

“It’s an honor,” he said.