The Story Behind AAC Oakman VB

Every variety tells a story — of innovation, persistence, and people. Behind each, is the quiet dedication of those who work to shape our agricultural future. AAC Oakman VB is one such story. More than just a name, it is a living tribute to the late Lesley Oakman — a respected and deeply missed wheat quality technician at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Swift Current Research and Development Centre. Lesley dedicated her career to the meticulous science of improving wheat varieties. As a technician, she worked with precision and pride, helping to develop and refine the processes used to test traits like protein, pigment, hardness, and colour. Her colleagues remember her as a leader in the lab and in the field — someone who gladly worked beyond the clock simply because she loved what she did. She was known for her sharp eye, exacting standards, and deep commitment to research that supported Canadian farmers. When Lesley lost her battle with cancer in 2020, the research team was left not only grieving a colleague, but also a friend. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional gatherings to honour her weren’t a possibility, but as time passed an idea took root.

“We realized we could do something lasting,” says Dr. Richard Cuthbert, the lead wheat breeder at Swift Current. “Naming a variety in her honour felt like the right way to recognize her contributions and ensure her legacy would live on in fields across the country.”

The name AAC Oakman VB was chosen — with the blessing of the seed company licensing the variety — to reflect both her personal impact and her professional excellence. Fittingly, AAC Oakman VB is a solid stem CWRS wheat with wheat stem sawfly and midge tolerance — key threats to Prairie wheat crops. Its solid stem trait is especially meaningful, as Lesley spent countless days in the field splitting stems and advancing solid stem and sawfly research.

“She would be incredibly touched,” says Malina Poppy, a fellow research assistant. “This variety represents
the kind of careful, impactful work she loved being a part of.”

AAC Oakman VB is more than a high-quality new variety. It’s a symbol of collaboration, quiet leadership, and the enduring impact of those who devote their lives to science and service. As this variety grows, we can all be reminded that behind every great variety is a great team — and sometimes, an extraordinary individual.

Photo courtesy of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.