Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, that state’s first Democratic chief executive in 20 years, will address Missouri Democrats on Saturday at the annual Jackson Days gathering in Springfield, Mo.

Jackson Days is among the more prominent among the ongoing series of regional Democratic gatherings, which began in early March with Democrat Days in Hannibal. (Last weekend saw Jefferson Days in Jefferson County; earlier, the Jeff-Jack dinner in St. Louis.)

Schweitzer will speak at the Jackson Days’ Saturday night banquet, held at the Clarion Hotel, 3333 S. Glenstone Ave.

Schweitzer, 52, was elected in 2005 and has become a hot Democratic persona, known for his folksy manner (a la Virginia’s Sen. Jim Webb).

“He’s somebody who is an upcoming figure in the Democratic Party, especially out West,” said Craig Hosmer, a former state lawmaker and chairman of the Greene County Democratic Central Committee, in an article in the Springfield News-Leader  (Via Combest).

Schweitzer is expected to join Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon at a Saturday afternoon news conference, presumably at the Clarion.

Also on tap at Jackson Days:  Saturday morning breakfast speeches by the three Democrats vying to succeed Nixon. The testy trio are, of course, state Reps. Margaret Donnelly of Richmond Heights and Jeff Harris of Columbia and state Sen. Chris Koster of Harrisonville.