“As a freshman, it’s all new to me,” said Brynaert, who thinks it’s a coup for area colleges to have both herself and Sheran on the conference committee. “... It feels a whole lot like a compliment, in a very humbling way. It’s an honor.”

Sheran and Brynaert said it’s particularly useful to have the Mankato area well represented on the higher education conference committee.

“This is really good for us and the district I represent,” Sheran said. “It’s one of the anchors of the area — higher education.”

Morrow said he stressed regional issues in making a sales pitch to House leaders about being a good choice for the transportation conference committee. Morrow said the committee needed a member who understood the needs of farmers attempting to get corn, soybeans and livestock to market; one who grasped the transportation demands of a growing ethanol and biodiesel industry.

“I said we need someone on the committee who will be attentive to those needs,” Morrow said.

Other area lawmakers who have received appointments to key conference committees are Rep. Bob Gunther, R-Fairmont, who will serve on the jobs and economic development panel and Sen. Tom Neuville, R-Northfield, who will join Rosen on the public safety and judiciary committee. Gunther and Neuville couldn’t be reached for comment Monday afternoon.